12 schools advance in race for Stanbic’s UGX 150 million schools innovation prize

May 23, 2026 in Companies, Trade & Industry by Editor

 The finalists, drawn from across Uganda, will receive seed capital to refine their business ideas ahead of the August finale, where they will compete for a share of UGX 150 million and a trip to South Africa.

 

Twelve schools from across Uganda have advanced to the national finals of the Stanbic National Schools Championship, setting the stage for a high-stakes innovation contest that will see winners walk away with a share of a UGX 150 million kitty and a fully funded educational trip to South Africa.

The finalists were unveiled this week, following a rigorous five-day boot camp hosted at Gayaza High School, where more than 200 secondary and vocational institutions competed in entrepreneurship and innovation challenges designed to sharpen practical business skills among learners.

The schools progressing to the final lap include Lira Town College, Comboni College, and Cotn Marani Honors High School from Northern Uganda; Iganga S.S, Ngora High School, and Kakira S.S from Eastern Uganda; St. Thereza Girls S.S, Sedes Sapientiae Academiae S.S, and Kyebambe Girls S.S from Western Uganda; alongside Aga Khan High School, St. Kizito High School Namugongo, and Bishop Dunstan Nsubuga S.S Kalangala from the Central region.

The selected schools will now receive seed capital to further refine and scale their business ideas ahead of the final appraisal phase scheduled for August.

This year’s championship attracted nearly 1,000 applications from schools across Uganda, highlighting the growing interest among young people in entrepreneurship, innovation, and job creation.

Out of the applicants, 201 schools were shortlisted for the boot camp, where students and teachers underwent intensive training in psychosocial and stress management, personal financial management, sales and marketing, branding, packaging, and business pitching.

Following preliminary assessments, 52 schools advanced to present their projects before a panel of judges, with only three schools from each region eventually making it to the national finals.

Now in its 11th edition, the Stanbic Bank-sponsored competition is running under the theme “Powering Innovation for Job Creation,” with this year’s tagline, “Flex Your Genius.”

The competition showcases student-led projects across sectors including agriculture, ICT, health, and manufacturing, reflecting the expanding culture of innovation emerging from Uganda’s education sector.

Lydia Lynn Amarorwot from Mentor Secondary School Lira, who participated in the Business Fellowship category, said the boot camp had equipped her with valuable entrepreneurial and communication skills.

“I have made friends and gained valuable skills, especially in developing a business model canvas, creating a business plan, and learning how to pitch before judges. I hope to go all the way to the grand finale,” she said.

All semi-finalist schools received seed capital amounting to UGX 15 million collectively to support the growth of their projects.

Susan Nakayi Kasandakawu, Principal Education Officer at the Ministry of Education and Sports, said the championship aligns closely with Uganda’s competence-based curriculum reforms, which emphasize practical learning and problem-solving.

“The Ministry of Education and Sports is delighted to see such innovations taking place. The creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking demonstrated by the students are exactly what the new curriculum seeks to promote,” she said.

She added that initiatives such as the Stanbic National Schools Championship are helping equip learners with practical workplace and entrepreneurial skills needed in a rapidly changing economy.

“As the Ministry, we appreciate Stanbic Bank for ensuring that learners from all regions of the country have an opportunity to acquire these skills, network, and gain exposure that will positively shape their future,” she added.

Stanbic Bank Corporate Social Investment Manager Diana Ondoga encouraged participants to remain resilient regardless of the outcome of the competition.

“Regardless of today’s outcome, look back at where you started and how far you have come. You are all winners and champions,” Ondoga said.

“Even if you do not win today, keep working at it. Some of the most successful businesses are built by people who refused to give up after multiple setbacks.”

The championship has increasingly evolved into one of Uganda’s most visible school-based innovation platforms, reflecting a broader shift toward experiential learning and youth entrepreneurship as the country seeks solutions to unemployment and skills gaps among young people.