Uganda, Kenya Students Celebrate Culture at Tororo MDD Competitions

What the report says

Hundreds of students from Uganda and Kenya gathered at Tororo Girls School for the 2026 National Music, Dance and Drama competitions, a week-long festival that highlighted performance, cultural exchange and regional ties. According to Nile Post, the event featured 48 Ugandan secondary schools and 685 Kenyan students who had qualified through their national competitions.

The festival gave learners a chance to present music, dance and drama, meet peers from across the border and experience different cultural traditions. Tororo Girls School headteacher Beatrice Akware said such events help students value the diversity and richness of culture, while also encouraging them to think beyond competition and use their talents to create future opportunities. A student speaker, Karlton Muyimba of King’s College Budo, urged participants to believe in themselves, stay disciplined and keep developing their abilities.

Organisers said Music, Dance and Drama remains an important part of education because it supports confidence, teamwork, discipline, creativity and communication alongside classroom learning. They also framed the festival as a possible platform for wider East African integration through education and culture. Kenya’s education secretary, Nelson Sefuna, called for more East African countries to join future editions, while Atima Francis from Uganda’s education standards directorate stressed the need to preserve cultural heritage.

The competitions ended with recognition for outstanding students and schools, which received trophies, medals and television screens for their performances.