By J. L. Andrew
It is imperative to engage in extensive dialogues among the youth in order to cultivate more proficient leaders who can effectively drive the progress of the nation.
According to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), debates give an opportunity to develop key leadership skills such as critical thinking, effective communication, and conflict resolution, which are vital in sustainable development of any country.
They argue that it is important to equip young people with enhanced debating abilities, underlining that the advancement of any country can only be attained through the presence of capable leaders who possess the skills to engage in fruitful discussions on pertinent matters.
While officiating at the Grand Finale of Elle Parle Women’s Open 2024 at Fairway Hotel Kampala on May 24, 2024, Mercy Grace Munduru, the Programs and Fundraising manager at ActionAid International Uganda (AAIU), emphasized the deficiency in Uganda’s ability to engage in comprehensive and high-quality discussions.
The debate ran under the theme: “SANKOFA; The Power of Affirming Inner Voice”.
It was organized by AAIU in partnership with, Vijana Corps, Memprow, and the Debate Society of Uganda.
The debate tournament places emphasis on topics like gender equality, political advocacy, and challenging cultural norms that undermine women. This is aimed at promoting open dialogue and has recently coordinated a nationwide tournament, complete with public speaking and debating training sessions.
The Winners of Elle Parle 2024 Debate Track was Team Robinah Nabbanja, represented by Denise Ayebare and Prima Birungi.
These were awarded a trophy as a token of appreciation.
The deficit of critical thinking leaders, observed in both parliamentary and non-parliamentary settings, Munduru noted that this significantly impacts the decision-making process and the allocation of resources.
She noted that there are challenges that require thoughtful responses based on research and supported by evidence, but regrettably, the reasoning often succumbs to politicization and partisan politics.
“It is reflected in the way we budget and develop our country in general. There are critical issues that need response informed by thoughts, research or being backed up by evidence. But on many occasions, we allow politicization and partisan politics to take over our reasoning,” she noted.
She observed that in the majority of instances during the budgetary process, when legislators are required to provide their input to the budgetary committee, a large number of them share their opinions without conducting any research or consulting with their constituents.
She pointed out that numerous government projects have been initiated, but have not achieved significant success due to the lack of thorough research during implementation.
“However good the project may appear; it can’t be successful when it’s out of touch with the reality,” she added.
During the debating process, the young people were given the opportunity to conduct research, express their own ideas, and voice their opinions on important matters during the deliberation.
Munduru noted that if the country produces a generation of leaders who have been intentionally nurtured in critical thinking, research skills, and evidence-based decision-making, the nation will progress to meet the necessary standards.
She said the Grand Finale of Elle Parle Women’s Open 2024 debate competitions is proof that the participants are nurtured to become reliable citizens whose debating skills are not controlled by emotions, political parties or transactions.
Isabella Akite, the keynote speaker emphasized the importance of adopting a global mindset when tackling local challenges within our communities.
She urged individuals to consider the broader implications of their actions and to approach development issues with a global perspective. She said by doing so, she believed that this could initiate a ripple effect that would have a far-reaching impact.
She implored individuals grappling with life’s challenges to consistently ponder upon them, as it is the singular method through which they can unearth remedies.
Shakira Nakalema, the team leader, who expressed her appreciation to AAIU, Vijana Corps, Memprow, and the organizing committee for the success of the event.
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