Enjuba Spelling Bee Final Set for Saturday as 353 Pupils Compete

What the report says

The 14th enjuba National Spelling Bee is set to conclude on Saturday at Kampala Serena Hotel, where 353 pupils from 12 districts will compete in the grand finale. According to Nile Post, this year’s edition has been expanded to include separate junior and senior categories, reflecting a broader effort to support learners at different ages and stages.

Preliminary rounds for Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono were held at Next Media Park on Friday, where contestants faced spelling and vocabulary tests before advancing to the final stages. The junior division is open to children aged six to eight, while the senior category covers ages nine to 12. Organisers say the revised format is meant to strengthen literacy, build confidence and encourage children to read more widely.

Enjuba’s chief literacy officer, William Mukisa, said the return of the junior category is intended to reach younger pupils earlier in their learning journey. Teachers who attended the event also praised the contest for encouraging practical learning, public speaking and self-esteem. A school representative from Good Times Infant School said the competition helps children become more confident when speaking before audiences.

The finale will include quarter-finals and later rounds, with one winner to be crowned in each category. The event is being staged as part of a television production partnership between enjuba and Next Media, and organisers said results will be released only after the production team gives approval. Enjuba, a nonprofit focused on reading instruction and storybooks, says the competition is part of a wider push to improve children’s literacy in Uganda.