By John Barnes Ssentamu
Team Java Tech from Holy Cross Lake View Senior Secondary School, Wanyange in Jinja, has emerged overall winner of the 3rd STEM Robotics Competition and Hackathon, underlining Uganda’s steady progress in science and technology education.
The two-day competition was held at Kabojja International School, Buziga, drawing more than 200 learners from 28 schools and institutions across the region. The event was organised by NextGen Restyling Uganda in partnership with the Coderina Education Technology Foundation.
Holy Cross Lake View SS topped the First Lego League, an institutional category that focuses on applied science and technology. The victory earns the school the opportunity to represent Uganda at the World Advanced League in the United States next year.
Team leader Michael Bakasula credited their success to teamwork and shared creativity. He said the winning project, developed under the 2025 First Lego Challenge archaeology theme, was the result of collective effort, curiosity and active participation by all team members.
Green Hill Academy finished second and third overall, with its teams set to represent Uganda in Australia and China respectively.
This year’s competition also marked the first inclusion of university teams, with students from Makerere University, Kampala International University and Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (Mukono Campus) taking part.
Mellon Kenyangi, the founding director of NextGen Restyling Uganda, said involving university students was deliberate, noting that many graduates struggle to translate academic knowledge into practical skills. He said STEM-based competitions provide a platform for hands-on learning and problem-solving.
Kabojja International School director Hajji Ahmed Lwasa said the competition comes at a critical time as Uganda seeks to build a workforce equipped for science and technology-driven industries.
Principal Sam Turya added that participants gained valuable lessons in teamwork and collaboration alongside technical skills.
In the First Tech Challenge category, host school Kabojja International School emerged winners, followed by Kololo Senior Secondary School. Mary Hill won the hackathon segment, with Twinbrook finishing second.
Projects presented at the competition addressed practical challenges, including security systems, waste management solutions and hospital pharmacy tools.
Kenyangi further revealed that following the success of the event and its regional participation from Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and Tanzania, NextGen Restyling Uganda has received approval from its headquarters in Houston, United States, to host an East African, and later Africa-wide STEM robotics competition, positioning Uganda as a regional centre for robotics and innovation.
