On the 23^rd of March, 2025 the school campus was a beehive of activity as the debating club held an African Union Summit Mock Debate on the theme: The Mental and Emotional Well-Being of Learners in The 21^st Century Africa. The occasion, graced by Dr. Justine Nakimuli Kigozi Odwongo as the chief guest was held on the heels of a spate of media reports of attempted and completed cases of suicide and other related rash actions among learners in Uganda. Dr Justine Nakimuli Kigozi Odwongo is a UK-based psychiatrist on a fellowship for quality component of health services. she is based in Liverpool. Dr. Justine Nakimuli Kigozi Odwongo is an old student of the school.

The debating event attracted participation of students from eleven schools in the country. The ‘delegations’ were from the following African countries; Uganda, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Egypt, D. R. Congo, South Sudan and Mozambique. The summit was superficially hosted in South Sudan.

The grand event had a precursor in the form of impromptu debates. These were great opportunities for the debaters from different schools to engage in thrilling debates on a motion like ‘Guidance and counselling professionals should be a mandatory requirement for opening up a school.’ This and other motions helped the learners to share thoughts about matters that affect their peers.

In the mock summit, delegates from ‘across the African continent’ shared their thoughts and personal opinions on the sore issue of mental health that has claimed the precious lives of young people in schools. The students, speaking as presidents, voiced the need for a joint strategy by the African union members to ensure adequate funding and enforcement of policy interventions in the education sector to save lives and improve completion rates of learners. Professional counselling and close contact with parents and teachers were cited as critical steps in stemming the rising cases of attempted and completed suicide.

Dr. Justine Nakimuli Kigozi Odwongo in her address pointed out the need for combined efforts of parents, teachers and government to help young people.  She observed that the 21^st century African child on average has low resilience and has few or no problem-solving skills. She cited bullying in schools, poor parenting styles and unnoticed genetics as well as behavioural challenges as possible causes of mental problems among learners.

The Deputy Head teacher, Mr Venancio Amone, in his remarks to close the one-day-debating event thanked the chief guest for sharing great insights about the challenge of mental health and how to address it. He was also very grateful to the schools that had participated in the event.