Lango Students Win NICA Cultural Gala as Minister Calls for Environmental Conservation

What the report says

Lango Students Association (LASA) won the ninth cultural gala at National Instructors’ College Abilonino (NICA), held on Thursday, October 8, at the college in Ayer, Kole District, after scoring 387 marks. The event brought together student cultural associations from Lango, Acholi, Teso, West Nile, Ankole, Busoga, Bugisu and Buganda in a competition centered on dances, folk songs, drama and indigenous foods.

According to Dokolo Post, the gala was meant to celebrate Uganda’s cultural diversity while also linking culture with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). NICA officials said the event helps students preserve cultural values and build practical skills that can support community development. Daniel Tiniye, the college’s deputy principal, said cultural identity should be maintained alongside skills training, while Dean of Students Moses Lolu said the program was designed to promote cultural heritage and environmental awareness.

George Angoli, State Minister for Education in charge of bursaries at the Lango Cultural Institution, used the platform to encourage students to turn the “Greening Society through TVET” theme into concrete environmental action, including tree planting. He also connected the message to wider local priorities such as coffee growing and efforts to reduce poverty, while raising concerns about sickle cell disease and urging young people to consider genetic counselling before marriage. In the final standings, Acholi followed LASA with 376 marks, ahead of West Nile, Teso, the Busoga-Bugisu-Baganda group and Ankole.