Students and staff of Sumayya Girls High School in Nsangi, Wakiso District are celebrating a major infrastructure upgrade after reinvesting the grand prize they won in the 10th edition of the Stanbic National Schools Championship.
The school used part of the winnings to pave sections of its compound, transforming previously muddy walkways into accessible and attractive paths, particularly improving conditions during the rainy season.
The project had long been planned to enhance accessibility and beautify the school environment, but limited funding and competing priorities had repeatedly delayed it.
The win in the “Battle of Champions” edition of the entrepreneurship and innovation competition organized by Stanbic Bank Uganda enabled the school to finally realize these plans.
Following their victory, the school received Shs20 million in business capital, Shs5 million in institutional support, two laptops, and Shs2 million for the patron teacher.
The winning students and their mentor were also rewarded with a fully funded learning trip to South Africa valued at Shs50 million.
During the trip, they visited the headquarters of Standard Bank Group, the parent company of Stanbic Bank Uganda, and toured the Standard Bank Group Heritage Centre in Johannesburg.
The itinerary also included visits to Soweto, the historic home of anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, among other destinations.
In addition, the school received Shs20 million for winning the “Vote Your Champion” popular vote, a special category created to mark the competition’s 10th anniversary.
Voting, open to the general public in January and February, saw Sumayya Girls High School secure the highest number of votes among the eight finalists.
Sumayya Girls impressed judges with their UroCare UTI Detector, an innovative device designed to detect and test urinary tract infections (UTIs), addressing a health challenge that affects many young girls.
Jamimah Kutesa, one of the student innovators, explained that the project aims to provide affordable and accessible testing services, especially for schoolgirls who often struggle to access healthcare due to limited information and financial constraints.
The Wakiso-based school outperformed other finalists, including Mentor Secondary School with their Patient Monitoring System, Ibanda Secondary School with eco-friendly Koffia Candles, St. Noa Mawaggali SSS with the Snoams Walk Mate mobility innovation, and Comboni College Lira with their electric generator.
Ali Lwanga, Head of Sales at Stanbic Bank Uganda, said the championship is more than a competition for prizes. It provides students with a platform to nurture ideas, improve learning environments, and prepare young Ugandans to become job creators rather than job seekers.
With about 70 percent of Uganda’s population under the age of 30 and youth unemployment remaining high, programs like the Stanbic National Schools Championship complement the Ministry of Education’s competence-based curriculum by equipping students with entrepreneurial and innovation skills before graduation.
Over the past decade, the NSC has grown from a simple quiz competition into a major skilling program, reaching nearly 600,000 students and teachers and facilitating the creation of over 200 youth-led businesses.
Diana Ondoga, Head of Corporate Social Investment at Stanbic Bank Uganda, said the initiative reflects the bank’s commitment to national transformation, focusing on women, youth, and farmers.
“As an entity, our purpose is ‘Uganda is our home and we drive her growth.’ The National Schools Championship aligns with the bank’s strategic pillars, including financial inclusion, job creation, infrastructure development, climate resilience, and corporate philanthropy,” Ondoga said.
As Stanbic Bank Uganda marks 35 years in the country, applications for the 11th edition of the championship are now open under the theme “Powering Innovation for Job Creation.”
Secondary and vocational schools nationwide have until March 29 to submit their applications via the bank’s digital platforms and the National Schools Championship portal.
