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The national contest, organized by Enjuba Spelling Bee, was held over the weekend at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala
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Bushenyi
Parental Care Nursery and Primary School, Bushenyi, is set to represent Uganda at this year’s Africa Spelling Bee Competition in Algeria next month after emerging the overall national winner.
The national contest, organized by Enjuba Spelling Bee, was held over the weekend at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala. The competition, which attracted more than 15 schools from across the country, aims to improve English language proficiency and literacy among Ugandan learners, supporting the country’s transition to English-based education.
Arinaitwe Leah, a pupil from Parental Care Nursery and Primary School, was among the top performers and walked away with a dummy cheque worth Shs 1.5 million, while other winners received trophies, medals, and scholastic materials. Other outstanding spellers included Amollo Jonathan of Tororo Parents School and Lwanga Peter Sendi of Pax Junior School.
Speaking at the grand finale, Mr. Aaron Kirunda, Chief Executive Officer of Enjuba, announced plans to introduce a new category for younger children aged 5 to 8 years starting next year.
“We have data from teachers across the country showing that 84 percent of children who participate in the Spelling Bee gain more confidence, while 92 percent improve in their reading and spelling,” Kirunda said.
He emphasized that the competition has significantly contributed to improving literacy levels and boosting learners’ self-esteem.
Owamasiko Andrela, one of the trainers at Parental Care Nursery and Primary School, attributed their success to consistent practice and teamwork.
“What made us perform well was the constant training and engagement with our learners. Our trainers always provided spelling exercises and guided the pupils through rehearsals,” Andrela said.
The head teacher, Mr. Desmond Tayebwa, praised the school’s commitment to holistic education, saying the victory reflects its strong values of discipline, focus, and teamwork.
“Our good performance is a result of teamwork, discipline, and the focus of our students. We also appreciate our director’s love for extracurricular activities, which has enabled us to participate in and excel at such competitions,” Tayebwa said.
The Spelling Bee Club patron and trainer, Ms. Kyoshabire Iryne, expressed excitement about their victory at the national level, noting that the experience has greatly benefited the learners.
“We are very excited about emerging national champions. This victory is the result of a lot of practice. The students have learned new vocabulary and improved their critical thinking,” she said.
Kyoshabire added that spelling proficiency directly supports overall academic performance.
“Many students fail exams because they struggle with spelling. Through the Spelling Bee, our learners have improved their confidence and accuracy, which will help them perform better in all subjects,” she added.
Torch Media Africa
