MDD Made Mandatory for Zombo Schools Next Year

Full report

By Mike Rwothomio

Music, Dance and Drama (MDD) will be mandatory for all schools in Zombo District next year, with education officials urging headteachers to allocate dedicated budgets to support creative arts activities.

Assistant Education Officer Patrick Bikadhu announced the planned requirement during the recent Zombo District MDD competitions for primary schools organised by the Nebbi District NGO Forum under the Alochi Ku Somo II Project.

He commended the participating schools and learners for displaying their talents and skills, saying teachers needed to provide more opportunities for learners to develop their abilities.

“Like I said, it will be a top-down approach. It will be a must for every school to participate next year in MDD. I would like to thank all the schools who participated. I was really surprised to see our learners having such talents and skills, which we are denying as teachers,” he said.

The competitions saw Destiny School of Excellence and Mvule Primary School emerge as the top winners in Ora and Okoro counties, respectively.

Destiny Nursery and Primary School from Aka Sub-county took first place in Ora County after competing against nine schools, although Angalarach Primary School did not participate.

Ari Primary School finished second, while Alube Primary School from Kango Sub-county came third.

Trophies were awarded to the three leading schools because of the higher number of participants.

In Okoro County, Mvule Primary School won the trophy, finishing ahead of runner-up Zombo Lower Primary School.

Four schools participated in the competition: Mvule, Zombo Lower, Mvugu Lower and Pagisi primary schools. Trophies were awarded to the top two schools because of the smaller number of entrants.

The two-day event took place at Ukemu Child and Youth Development Centre for Ora County on Monday, October 26, and at Mvungu Upper Primary School on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.

It was organised by the Nebbi District NGO Forum under the Alochi Ku Somo II Project, with support from COOPER AID Switzerland.

The event brought together 14 project schools, comprising seven schools from the previous year and seven from the current year, to unite learners, nurture talent, boost confidence and create platforms for future careers.

Project Officer Alfred Ogenmungu of the Nebbi District NGO Forum, who works on the Alochi Ku Somo Project, explained that the activity was intended to promote unity among project schools while giving learners opportunities to demonstrate their talents and prepare for future engagements.

“The major aim or objective of this activity is to bring the project schools together in unity. And the next one is to allow learners opportunity to demonstrate their talents and at the same time portray their skills as well as preparing them for future engagement. The aim was also to expose learners in order to prepare for future careers such that some of them who may have better talents may portray the talents which talents can best be used to earn a living,” Ogenmungu said.

He noted that schools had only two weeks to prepare for the competitions but still delivered strong performances.

“We are so grateful to our teachers who really came up within this short period. We gave only two weeks for the preparation and but what we have seen here was so great such that if learners could be given enough time, we may see a lot coming out of MDD. I want to thank all the schools and their headteachers and our learners who came up and participated in this event,” he added.

The competitions featured several categories, including poetry on the theme “Education Is the Light of Our Future”, drama titled “The Child Who Almost Dropped Out of School”, folk songs, folk dances using simple instruments such as drums and xylophones, and news reports or public speaking on “Alochi Ku Somo Project Transforms Learning in Zombo District”.

Participating schools in Ora County included Warr Public, Pei, Nyadima, Angalarach, Alube, Kango, Awusonzi, Ogalo, Arii and Destiny School of Excellence. Angalarach was listed among the invited schools but did not participate.

Those in Okoro County were Mvugu Lower, Pagisi, Mvule and Zombo Lower primary schools.

Meanwhile, adjudication panel chairperson Susu Alex urged schools to improve their preparation for future competitions.

Alex, who signed the Okoro County tally sheet on October 27, 2026, alongside Ongierchan Charles and Bithum Jimmy, observed that some schools had not adequately prepared their performances and submitted scripts late.

“When the adjudicators are here, this is what I realized. Most of our choir trainers were relaxed. The instruction is, if you have the script, bring for us to study. Now you bring when the activity is almost ending. That’s another wrong thing because at what time should I now discuss, I mean share it with my people here,” he said.

He encouraged schools to ensure energy in their performances and file photographs of any MDD activity.

The competitions form part of the broader Alochi Ku Somo II Project’s education-focused activities in Zombo District, implemented by the Nebbi District NGO Forum, Life Concern and CEFORD. The project emphasises improved learning, increased school participation and stronger cooperation among schools, families and communities.

The MDD programme aligns with the Ministry of Education and Sports’ promotion of creative arts through Uganda’s national curriculum and co-curricular activities.

The Nebbi District NGO Forum builds integrated systems that drive sustainable and inclusive development across the Greater Nebbi and West Nile region.

Since 2022, the organisation has shifted from project-based implementation to a systems-strengthening approach linking education, economic empowerment, governance and climate resilience.

Through models such as Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and partnerships for Agri-business Incubation, the forum advances youth- and women-led enterprise development while strengthening local institutions and accountability.