The stage is set for the grand finale of the 10th Stanbic National Schools Championship (NSC), where eight schools from across the country will compete for a UGX 20 million grand prize. The final showdown will take place on August 29 at Mestil Hotel, Kampala, marking a decade of nurturing youth-led innovation and entrepreneurship.
Since its launch, the competition has attracted hundreds of schools nationwide, serving as a platform for young people to turn creative ideas into practical solutions for Uganda’s most pressing challenges. This year’s edition began with over 150 schools and 500 students, with only eight teams making it through rigorous boot camps and regional qualifiers to the ultimate stage.
The finalists have impressed judges with projects ranging from health-tech solutions to clean energy and climate-smart innovations. Among them are, St. Noah SSS Mawaggali (Central) with WalkMate Smart Glasses for the visually impaired, Summayya High School (Central) with an early detection kit for urinary tract infections, Sacred Heart SS Mushanga (Western) with an automated water pumping and purification system, Ibanda SS (Western) with eco-friendly insect-repellent candles made from coffee and cloves, St. Mary’s Girls SS Mandera (Eastern) with a non-invasive glucose testing kit, Musana Vocational High School (Eastern) with the MK Independent Power Source, an alternative energy generator, Comboni College Lira (Northern) with a smoke-free electric generator, Mentor Secondary School (Northern) with an automated IV monitoring system for hospitals.
The overall winner will take home a UGX 20 million solar energy system for their school, while the runner-up will receive a UGX 10 million water supply system. In addition, outstanding students and their teachers will enjoy fully sponsored educational trips to Johannesburg, South Africa, alongside other prizes designed to support learning and innovation.
Stanbic Bank Uganda’s Head of Sustainability, Cathy Adengo, said the championship is about much more than competition: “These young people are showing us what the future of Uganda looks like. When we invest in their creativity, we are investing in the country’s economic resilience.”
The judging panel will assess projects on innovation, sustainability, scalability, and social impact, ensuring that the winning ideas are not only brilliant but also capable of driving real transformation.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Stanbic National Schools Championship has become one of the country’s leading youth empowerment platforms. It has already impacted thousands of learners with entrepreneurial skills, financial literacy, and exposure to innovation.
As the finalists prepare to pitch their ideas, all eyes are on these young innovators whose solutions could one day shape Uganda’s industries, communities, and future economy.