By By Our Reporter
Eastern Uganda is fast proving its strength in this year’s Stanbic National Schools Championship (NSC), after schools in the region unveiled a series of innovations that have captured national attention during the third week of appraisal visits. Among the standout projects is a low-cost, home-based glucose testing kit developed by students of St Mary’s Girls School, Madera, Soroti.
The innovation, which allows diabetic patients to monitor their blood sugar levels at home, is being hailed as a potential game changer in the fight against diabetes, particularly for patients in rural areas who often struggle with access to affordable healthcare. Instead of relying on costly hospital visits and painful blood-based methods, the kit makes use of a simple urine sample to deliver results quickly and conveniently.
According to Evelyn Ejang, a senior two student who was part of the project team, the idea came from a desire to ease the daily challenges faced by patients living with diabetes. “The main purpose of this glucose kit is to help patients with diabetes maintain their blood sugar levels. Unlike other methods that require injections, our kit uses a urine sample and follows a straightforward test procedure,” she explained.
Ejang also spoke about how participating in the National Schools Championship has shaped her perspective. “I’m glad to be part of the NSC because it has developed my thinking capacity, especially in entrepreneurship. It has given me the confidence to think about solutions that can transform lives,” she added.
For people already using the product, the benefits are clear. Beatrice Agado, a trader in Otuchopi market and one of the kit’s early adopters, shared her personal experience. “I developed diabetes four years ago, and before this kit, I was spending a lot of money at hospitals just to test my sugar levels. Now I can do it from home. My husband introduced me to the product after researching it, and since then I’ve been saving at least Shs 30,000 every week,” she said with gratitude.
Edward Charles Osidak, the patron teacher at St Mary’s Girls School, explained that the project grew from a simple idea rooted in community service. “We started with the thought of helping our people here in Soroti, many of whom are struggling with diabetes. With guidance and research, the students developed a portable, user-friendly glucose kit that can be used anywhere. Participation in the NSC has sharpened their skills not only in innovation but also in pitching and financial management, which are vital in turning their idea into a sustainable business,” he said.
The school’s head teacher, Sr Mary Aguti Salome, praised the competition and expressed appreciation to Stanbic Bank for its consistent support of youth-driven innovation. “We thank Stanbic Bank for supporting our children in business. These platforms enable students to transform brilliant ideas into real, life-changing solutions that can benefit entire communities,” she remarked.
The appraisal visits, which span Uganda’s four regions, represent the final stage of competition before the national winner is announced on August 29 in Kampala. St Mary’s Girls Madera is not the only school making headlines. At Musana Vocational High School in Iganga, Jinja district, students showcased an alternative energy solution dubbed the MK Independent Power Source, which generates electricity without relying on batteries, fuel, or running water.
Godfrey Muyambi, a member of the team behind the innovation, explained that the device uses carbon monoxide to produce power while addressing the twin challenges of blackouts and environmental pollution. “Our innovation is unique because it is eco-friendly. It doesn’t emit dangerous fumes and it is far more economical. Beyond generating electricity, it can also be used for cooking,” he said. Muyambi credited the NSC boot camp training sessions, particularly lessons on the Japanese Ikigai philosophy, with helping him develop focus and clarity about purpose-driven innovation.
Diana Ondoga, the head of Corporate Social Investment at Stanbic Bank, described the competition as an invaluable platform for nurturing entrepreneurial talent among Ugandan youth. “This competition gives secondary school students the chance to put their innovative ideas into practice. Out of 539 applications, we selected 200 schools, trained teachers, and refined the projects down to 150 strong ideas. These were further narrowed to 32, then to 16, and finally to the top eight representing each region,” she explained.
She confirmed that the grand finale will take place on August 29 in Kampala, where the national champion of this year’s Stanbic National Schools Championship will be crowned. As the countdown continues, students across the country are demonstrating that innovation is not limited to laboratories or universities, but can emerge from classrooms in rural and urban schools alike—where young minds are tackling real community challenges with creativity, resilience, and vision.
