Lira, Uganda | Dr. Obote College has been crowned the overall winner of the SESEMAT Regional Robotics and Innovation Competition after its students developed a robot capable of detecting Ebola symptoms, beating 10 government secondary schools from across the Lango sub-region.
The competition, organised by the Secondary Science and Mathematics Teachers (SESEMAT) programme in partnership with the Regional Management Committee (RMC), was hosted at Lango College in Lira City. It attracted young innovators who showcased science and technology projects aimed at solving real-life challenges.
Dr. Obote College’s Ebola detection robot stood out for its practical application in disease surveillance, earning the school the overall trophy and a certificate.
Other schools showcased innovations in robotics, chemistry and other science disciplines. They included St. Katherine Secondary School, Fr. Aloysius Secondary School, Adwari Secondary School, Bar Secondary School, Inomo Secondary School, Lira Secondary School, Comboni College, Lango College, Amach Complex Secondary School and Lira Town College.
All participating schools received certificates in recognition of their efforts.
Judge Betty Auma, who is also a teacher at Comboni College, commended the learners for their creativity and innovative thinking but noted that some schools fell short because of language barriers, stage fright, limited understanding of their projects and inadequate mastery of the scientific concepts behind their innovations.
She urged teachers to strengthen mentorship and provide more practical guidance to enable learners to confidently explain and improve their projects during competitions.
RMC vice-chairperson Alfred Oparo challenged the students to continue refining their innovations beyond the competition instead of abandoning them after the event.
He said government investment in science education through the Ministry of Education and Sports was equipping learners with the knowledge and skills needed to address community challenges through innovation.
RMC regional coordinator Florence Epila said the quality of projects presented reflected growing interest among learners in applying classroom knowledge to develop practical solutions to societal problems.
She encouraged schools to sustain innovation clubs and expose learners to more science competitions to nurture their talents.
Lango College headteacher Sam Bob Okino said Uganda’s ambition to become a science and technology-driven economy would largely depend on investing in young innovators.
He appealed to parents to support their children’s interest in science and innovation, noting that many promising learners fail to realise their full potential because of inadequate support at home.
The annual SESEMAT Regional Robotics and Innovation Competition is designed to promote practical learning, creativity and problem-solving among secondary school students while encouraging the application of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in addressing everyday challenges.
