Our Journey

Starting initially as ‘Youth Debate League’, in 2010, National Debate Council (NDC) Uganda was formally registered becoming the first and remains the most engaging debate and speech education organization in the country and is now endorsed by the Ministry of Education and Sports.

NDC uses debate, speech, and other genres of art as a vehicle for change – a space for young people to contribute meaningfully to national conversations and offer solutions to what affects them and their communities. Through our programs, we teach youngsters to think critically, read widely in order to broaden and deepen their insight into critical matters. This catalyzes their thinking, enhances collaboration and seeking of knowledge through research.

Having begun with only 20 schools from less than 10 districts, NDC has grown to engage students from over 90 districts. Over the past decade, NDC has engaged over 4.8 million young people and 500 schools & higher institutions of learning. All this has been possible with support from partners. NDC works closely with teachers in schools to implement the programs.

NDC boasts of a wide alumnus base countrywide and now internationally. Many are now national leaders in youth leadership, CSOs, missions, academia. Others are now strategically placed in international universities in Asia, Europe, Australia and the United States. Most of this has been the result of exposure to information, capacity building and skills learnt through debate and speech.