Eight student teams from across Uganda are set to compete in the Stanbic National Schools Championship (NSC) 2025 Grand Finale on August 29 at Mestil Hotel, Kampala, with a prize pool worth over UGX 30 million at stake.
This year’s edition, themed the “Battle of Champions,” marks the 10th anniversary of the NSC, a flagship youth innovation program by Stanbic Bank Uganda.
Over the past decade, the initiative has become a cornerstone of efforts to promote entrepreneurship, creativity, and problem-solving among young people while equipping them with practical business skills.
The winning team will be awarded a UGX 20 million solar energy system for their school, while the runner-up will receive a UGX 10 million water supply system.
Other finalists will get scholastic materials, and two students along with a mentor from the top-performing school will enjoy an all-expenses-paid educational trip to Johannesburg, South Africa.
Speaking ahead of the finals, Stanbic Bank’s Head of Personal and Private Banking, Mumba Kalifungwa, highlighted the program’s broader purpose.
“This competition is not just about prizes. It’s about giving young Ugandans the tools, platforms, and confidence to solve real-world problems. It brings our youth strategy to life empowering tomorrow’s entrepreneurs today,” he said.
Now in its 10th year, the Stanbic NSC has reached over 500,000 students, helped spark more than 200 youth-led enterprises, and solidified its role as a key pillar in Stanbic’s Women, Youth, and Farmers (WYF) growth agenda under the bank’s 2025–2028 strategy.
Cathy Adengo, Head of Sustainability at Stanbic Bank Uganda, underscored the program’s wider impact on the country’s innovation ecosystem. “These innovations show us what’s possible when we invest in youth, not just as customers, but as co-creators of Uganda’s economic future,” she said.
This year’s championship attracted more than 150 schools nationwide, with over 500 students submitting projects in fields such as health technology, sustainable energy, and manufacturing. Following a national bootcamp and rigorous elimination rounds, eight teams secured their places in the grand finale, each showcasing groundbreaking solutions with commercial potential and societal impact.
St. Noah SSS Mawaggali from the Central Region developed WalkMate Smart Glasses that integrate a locator, smart cane, and wearable glasses to assist visually impaired individuals, offering greater independence and safety.
Summayya High School, also from the Central Region, created an early detection kit for urinary tract infections, aiming to empower young women through preventive healthcare. Sacred Heart SS Mushanga from the Western Region designed an automated water pumping and purification system, already being piloted at their school to improve rural water access and hygiene.
Ibanda SS, also from the Western Region, innovated scented insect-repellent candles made from coffee grounds and cloves, targeting hotels, lodges, and households as an eco-friendly alternative to chemical repellents.
From the Eastern Region, St. Mary’s Girls SS Mandera developed a non-invasive glucose testing kit that uses urine instead of blood, simplifying diabetes monitoring in rural areas.
Musana Vocational High School, also from the East, introduced the MK Independent Power Source an ambitious prototype capable of generating electricity without sun, wind, fuel, or batteries, potentially revolutionizing sustainable energy.
In the Northern Region, Comboni College Lira developed a smoke-free electric generator to improve rural access to clean power, while Mentor Secondary School built an automated IV monitoring system designed to enhance healthcare delivery in under-resourced hospitals by alerting staff when fluid levels drop.
These innovations reflect the rising potential of youth-led enterprises in driving Uganda’s economic transformation. Many of the projects demonstrate scalability and commercial viability, reinforcing the NSC’s role as a breeding ground for future entrepreneurs and start-up founders rather than just a school competition.
During the grand finale, the eight teams will present their projects to a panel of experts, investors, and policymakers. Judging will focus on innovation, impact, scalability, sustainability, and presentation.
Adengo believes the program has already succeeded in cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset among young Ugandans. “Each of these teams has demonstrated the potential to become real entrepreneurs, not just participants in a school project, this is what transformation looks like and Stanbic is proud to be part of it,” she said.
As Uganda continues to face high youth unemployment and a rapidly changing economic landscape, platforms like the NSC are proving critical in preparing young innovators to thrive in a knowledge-driven economy.
By providing mentorship, exposure, and financial support, Stanbic is equipping the next generation with tools to build scalable businesses, create jobs, and drive industrialization.
The grand finale promises a showcase of creativity and business-driven solutions to some of Uganda’s most pressing challenges.
With the stakes high and the innovations bold, all eyes will be on the eight finalists as the “Battle of Champions” unfolds on August 29 at Mestil Hotel, where the winning team will earn not just the top prize but an opportunity to transform industries and shape Uganda’s future.
