Sumayya Girls High School from Nsangi has emerged as the overall winner of the 10th edition of the Stanbic National Schools Championship (NSC), taking home the top prize with their innovative Urocare UTI Detector, a device designed to detect urinary tract infections early and cheaply, especially among young women.
The students’ innovation earned them prize package worth millions, including Shs20 million in business capital, Shs5 million for school development, two laptops, a teacher’s award of Shs 2 million, and a fully paid study trip to South Africa valued at Shs50 million.
Other schools also showcased creativity and determination. Mentor Secondary School finished as runners-up with their Patient Monitoring System, winning Shs10 million alongside institutional and teacher awards. Ibanda Secondary School came third with eco-friendly Koffia Candles, while St. Noa Mawaggali SSS impressed with their mobility-support innovation, the Snoams Walk Mate.
In the Business Fellowship category, Abia Top Security Alarm walked away with Shs13 million, followed by Tembo Organics with Shs6 million, and Yummy Collection with Shs2 million.
Speaking at the grand finale, Stanbic Bank Uganda CEO Kenneth Mumba Kalifungwa praised the competition for nurturing skills that equip young Ugandans to become entrepreneurs rather than job seekers. Youth and Children Affairs State Minister Balaam Barugahara echoed his remarks, stressing that the championship is preparing future leaders who will drive innovation, create jobs, and influence policy in the years to come.
Now in its 10th year, the Stanbic National Schools Championship has reached more than 500 schools, impacted over 600,000 learners, supported the creation of 200 youth-led businesses, and attracted more than Shs7 billion in investment from Stanbic Bank.
The win by Sumayya Girls High School not only celebrates youthful innovation but also highlights the transformative role of education in solving real-life health and social challenges.