By Our Reporter
KAMPALA — Stanbic Bank Uganda has announced the 12 schools that have qualified for the national stage of the Stanbic National Schools Championship, with the grand finale set for August this year.
The finalists were selected after an intensive five-day innovation boot camp hosted at Gayaza High School in Wakiso District. The event brought together over 200 schools, all competing for a share of a UGX 150 million prize pool as well as a fully sponsored educational trip to South Africa.
The qualifying schools include Lira Town College, Comboni College, and COTN Marani Honors High School from Northern Uganda; Iganga S.S, Ngora High School, and Kakira S.S from Eastern Uganda; St. Thereza Girls S.S, Sedes Sapientiae Academiae S.S, and Kyebambe Girls S.S from Western Uganda; and Aga Khan High School, St. Kizito High School Namugongo, and Bishop Dunstan Nsubuga S.S Kalangala representing Central Uganda.
These schools will now receive seed funding to further develop and refine their business concepts ahead of the next evaluation phase, which will determine the ultimate winners at the national finals.
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By Our Reporter
KAMPALA — Stanbic Bank Uganda has announced the 12 schools that have qualified for the national stage of the Stanbic National Schools Championship, with the grand finale set for August this year.
The finalists were selected after an intensive five-day innovation boot camp hosted at Gayaza High School in Wakiso District. The event brought together over 200 schools, all competing for a share of a UGX 150 million prize pool as well as a fully sponsored educational trip to South Africa.
The qualifying schools include Lira Town College, Comboni College, and COTN Marani Honors High School from Northern Uganda; Iganga S.S, Ngora High School, and Kakira S.S from Eastern Uganda; St. Thereza Girls S.S, Sedes Sapientiae Academiae S.S, and Kyebambe Girls S.S from Western Uganda; and Aga Khan High School, St. Kizito High School Namugongo, and Bishop Dunstan Nsubuga S.S Kalangala representing Central Uganda.
These schools will now receive seed funding to further develop and refine their business concepts ahead of the next evaluation phase, which will determine the ultimate winners at the national finals.
This year’s competition attracted close to 1,000 applications from secondary and vocational institutions across the country, reflecting rising interest among young people in entrepreneurship, innovation, and problem-solving.
Out of these, 201 schools were shortlisted for the boot camp, where students and teachers underwent practical training in areas such as psychosocial support, stress management, personal financial literacy, sales and marketing, branding, packaging, and business pitching.
After the first elimination round, 52 schools advanced to present their ideas before a panel of judges, with the top three schools from each region earning spots in the final stage.
Now in its 11th edition, the competition runs under the theme “Powering Innovation for Job Creation,” with the 2026 tagline “Flex Your Genius.” Projects this year span agriculture, ICT, health, and manufacturing, showcasing the breadth of innovation among Ugandan students.
One of the participants, Lydia Lynn Amarorwot from Mentor Secondary School in Lira, said the programme significantly improved her entrepreneurship and presentation abilities.
She noted that she gained practical experience in developing a business model canvas, writing a business plan, and pitching to judges, adding that she hopes to reach the grand finale.
All semi-finalist schools also received UGX 15 million in seed capital to support their ongoing projects.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry, Ministry of Education and Sports Principal Education Officer Susan Nakayi Kasandakawu praised the initiative for aligning with Uganda’s competency-based curriculum reforms.
She emphasized that the programme promotes creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking—skills that are central to the new curriculum and essential for the modern workforce.
She further commended Stanbic Bank for ensuring nationwide participation, enabling learners from all regions to gain exposure, skills, and networks that will shape their futures.
Diana Ondoga, Stanbic Bank’s Corporate Social Investment Manager, congratulated all participants, encouraging them to remain resilient regardless of the outcome.
She reminded students that every participant is already a winner for reaching that stage, and urged them to continue refining their ideas even in the face of setbacks, noting that many successful ventures are built after repeated attempts.
