By Agatha N. Biira
Public speaking has always been something that comes easily for Evelyn Mugisha. She has always wanted to be part of policy-making platforms and spaces that help her express herself. Her first public speaking experience came in primary school, when she ran for and won the position of head girl at Kabatereine Memorial Primary School in Mbarara, Western Uganda.
Now awaiting graduation with a Bachelor of Laws at Uganda Christian University (UCU), Mugisha has found it even much easier to take part in intellectual discussions. In the online John H. Jackson World Trade Organization (WTO) African moot court competition on March 27, Evelyn Mugisha was named the best African orator.
Mugisha, alongside her team mates, Tracy Nagasha and Hannah Stacey Baluka, all awaiting graduation with Bachelor of Laws at UCU, represented the university and were among the best four teams in Africa that qualified for the global competition that will take place in Geneva starting on June 28th.
She says this is a great achievement for her and that it will open up many career opportunities. “Having that on a CV, especially in a legal career, is a big bonus point,” says Mugisha.
Having joined the competition in November 2021, Mugisha attributes this achievement to months of hard work as a team and her involvement in various platforms, especially debates. With guidance and an extra push from their trainers, it all paid off. Among the trainers are Samson Wanambuko, a lecturer in law at UCU; Isaac Mpirwe, a tutor in law at UCU; and Peter Ahabwe, a UCU alumnus. Mpirwe, who is also their lead coach, says it was a team of 7 that kept dropping off due to the pressure until the last three. “These three are very hardworking, brilliant, and resilient ladies,” Mpirwe said.
This was not the first time Mugisha had represented UCU. She represented the university at the All Africa Moot Competition in her second year in 2020. The event that was supposed to happen in Senegal was conducted online due to the COVID-19 induced lockdown. In 2021, she represented UCU in Gulu at the annual Inter-university Human Rights Competition, where she emerged the winner.
Mugisha’s passion for public speaking and interest in diplomacy have pushed her to keep taking part in programs and competitions that help her grow. And just like everything else, there is always a downside. Mugisha says her biggest challenge was time.
“For this particular competition, it really took a lot of time that I would have put into my academics. It was very demanding, yet you had to be a good student. So, I had to balance that with my academics, which was not really easy,” says Mugisha.
However, Mugisha, adds that the environment at UCU was ideal for self-growth and development.
“Generally, people are very receptive and responsive. The general set up is not chaotic, and so for me, I was able to make wonderful friends among students and staff,” said Mugisha.
Coming from a family where 4 out of 6 children are public speakers, Mugisha has been naturally drawn to this. With the full support of her parents, Alex Paul Mugisha and Annette Tumwikirize, of the Kamwengye district in Western Uganda, Mugisha has been able to do things that she loves.
She was also molded by the schools she attended, such as Kabatereine Memorial School, Ibanda Town School, and Maryhill High School, all in Western Uganda. Mugisha says she took advantage of the already existing programs such as the weekly debates and various school competitions. In her senior six, she represented her school in the National Schools Championship organized by Stanbic Bank in 2017 where she emerged as the national champion.
While at Maryhill High School, Mugisha was a deputy speaker for the school council in O’level and a speaker in A’level. “Public speaking is a big part of who I am and what I do.” “It made my leadership very easy and I found it really easy to fit into these positions,” says Mugisha.
Mugisha looks up to her parents because they inspire her to go after what she wants, persevere and be consistent. “My parents have set a standard for me, so it’s really where I begin.”
She also looks up to Martin Muhwezi, the team leader at Investors Club Uganda, a partner of Stanbic Bank, and Barbara Kasekende, a former CSI manager at Stanbic Bank. Mugisha hopes to be a diplomat someday.
