Busitema University Targets Stronger Finish as Ultimate University Quiz Preparations Begin
Busitema University has begun preparations for the fourth edition of the Ultimate University Quiz with a clear ambition to improve on its third-place finish in the previous edition, as students gain direct exposure to some of Uganda’s leading institutions and potential career opportunities.
The preparations received a boost when representatives from Vision Group and its partners visited Busitema University for a student engagement ahead of the national competition. The engagement, held at the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Conference Hall, brought together newly reported first-year students and introduced them to the competition, its expectations and the opportunities it offers beyond the quiz itself.
Busitema University was the first university visited by the organisers as part of the pre-quiz engagements.
Organised by Vision Group (New Vision) in partnership with the Bank of Uganda, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and Turkish Airlines, the Ultimate University Quiz brings together 27 chartered universities to compete in a contest designed to test students’ knowledge across a wide range of disciplines and current affairs.
The competition presents an opportunity for Busitema University to build on last year’s performance, when its team finished third among participating institutions.
Vision Group Programme Coordinator Max Adii told students that success in the competition would require preparation beyond the confines of their academic programmes. He encouraged participants to broaden their knowledge across banking, the economy, sports, aviation, taxation, ICT, data protection, legal affairs, environment, science, technology and innovation, literature, current affairs and other areas likely to feature in the competition.
The stakes are also significant. The winning university is set to receive Shs25 million, while the individual winner will receive a laptop and Shs1 million. The first runners-up will receive Shs15 million, laptops and Shs500,000, while the third runners-up will receive Shs400,000 alongside other prizes. The coach of the victorious team will also receive an air ticket from Turkish Airlines to a destination of their choice.
For students, however, the engagement offered more than an introduction to the competition. Representatives of the partner institutions used the opportunity to connect with students and share information about their organisations, professional opportunities and areas of interest relevant to the quiz.
Team leads Jonah Waiswa from the Bank of Uganda, Collin Agaba from the Uganda Communications Commission and Godwin Akiza from the Uganda Revenue Authority made presentations about their respective institutions. Their presentations touched on areas including internship opportunities, public awareness and the use of emerging platforms such as TikTok to engage younger audiences.
The interaction provided students with an opportunity to learn directly from professionals working in key national institutions while gaining insights that could prove useful both in the quiz and in their future careers.
Representing the Dean of Students and University Management, David Owino, the Administrative Guild Assistant and coach of the Busitema University team, welcomed the organisers and participants. He emphasised the importance of starting preparations early, particularly given the breadth of knowledge required for the competition.
Owino noted that the University's performance in the previous edition demonstrates its potential to compete at the highest level and that early preparation can give the team an advantage as it seeks to go beyond last year's third-place finish.
The University's student leadership also welcomed the engagement. The 17th Guild President, Onesmus Kamara, thanked the University for creating opportunities that expose students to organisations and professionals beyond the campus.
He described such engagements as important platforms for networking, noting that the relationships students build through them can contribute to their personal development as well as the broader advancement of the institution.
The University's preparations are also benefiting from the experience of students who participated in last year's competition. Bong Alex from the Faculty of Health Sciences and Sikoria Aggrey Joshua from the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, who were members of the team that secured third place, attended the engagement and encouraged fellow students to take part.
Sikoria, who also serves as the Resident Campus Commissioner for Busitema Campus, played a role in mobilising students for the engagement and shared his experience with those preparing for the forthcoming competition.
With students drawn from different academic backgrounds, the University is now looking to build a team capable of combining disciplinary knowledge with awareness of national and global developments.
The fourth Ultimate University Quiz therefore offers Busitema University more than another opportunity to compete. It provides a platform for students to demonstrate their intellectual breadth, engage directly with influential national institutions, explore professional opportunities and raise the University's profile through academic competition.
Having already secured a place among the country's leading university quiz teams, Busitema University is now setting its sights on turning last year's third-place finish into an even stronger performance in the fourth edition.
