By Our Reporter
Makerere University’s Patrick Nuwe Tuhaire has emerged winner of the Inter-University Smart Drinking Challenge which concluded on Friday.
Patrick Nuwe Tuhaire, a first year student pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Systems and Technology, faced off with 14 others during the grand finale held at Kabira Country Club where they pitched their ideas to a panel of four judges who included Bob Kasiki, Dr Innocent Nahabwe, Cynthia Tumwine Kawamara and Zandile Nqoko.
Patrick Nuwe Tuhaire impressed judges with his idea dubbed “Nile Your Vibe” which sought to curb the harmful use of alcohol among young adults using edutainment.
The judges said the ideas were ranked according to problem definition and adherence to topic; practicality of the solution provided; creativity and novelty of the idea; execution and delivery; and how easily it can be popularized.
Tuhaire’s idea was picked as the ultimate winner because it would resonate well with university students.
“This person conceived the mindset, and psyche of the university person and developed something that would attract and work well with them.” Judge Bob Kasiki noted as they announced the winner.
Patrick Nuwe Tuhaire was rewarded Ugx 3 million while Linda Adong Lutanda also a student at Makerere University who came second place bagged UGX 2million. Raymond Mukasa Charles of Makerere University came third and won UGX 1 million.
“We challenged university students across Uganda to submit the best ideas to encourage responsible drinking among youth, and the participants rose to the occasion to address drinking vices in their universities with practical solutions,” said Onapito Ekomoloit, the Legal & Corporate Affairs Director Nile Breweries.
“I congratulate the winner and while they will walk away with prizes, the most critical aspect is that they are now ambassadors of smart drinking,” Onapito said.
Speaking at the finale as guest of honor, Mondo Kyateeka, Commissioner Youth and Children’s Affairs in the Ministry of Gender, lauded NBL for creating a platform to tap into young people’s creativity and innovations.
“NBL you have proved a dependable partner in providing solutions to young people’s problems. Platforms such as these are bringing out the creative mind of young people.” Mondo Kyateeka said.
“We believe in an asset-based approach to youth programming where we don’t take young people as targets to be met but as solutions to the problems they face. It is important for young people to create solutions to their problems; young people to be creators of ideas and not mere followers of thinkers.” Kyateeka added.
Launched in September this year, the inaugural Inter-University Smart Drinking Challenge, was aimed at influencing social norms and individual behaviors, by challenging students to submit the best ideas to encourage responsible behavior among the youth.
This followed recent studies that found high levels of abuse of alcohol and other substances in Uganda universities.
The competition saw students from the five (5) participating universities; Makerere University, Mbarara University of Science & Technology (MUST), Kampala University, Soroti University & Kyambogo University, battle it out throughout the campaign to make it to the top 100, then top 40 and top 15, from among whom emerged the top 3 who battled for the ultimate prize. A total of 388 students entered the competition.
Among the ideas students submitted for the competition were written form, video, graphics and social media content forms to create winning concepts based on the theme BeSmartDrinkSmart, Beera Mu Classi.
