Democracy Comes Alive: Atlas High School's Vibrant Campaign Day Showcases Student Leadership
- Mubiru Victor Kizito
- 21 hours ago
- 5 min read
By Mubiru Victor Kizito (Information Prefect Atlas High School)
Editor Kayiwa James Earl
Atlas High School Campaign Day: Democracy in Action
The corridors of Atlas High School buzzed with anticipation and excitement on June 13th, 2025, as students gathered for one of the most vibrant events of the academic year—the student leadership campaigns. What unfolded was not merely an election exercise, but a powerful demonstration of young democracy in action, complete with passionate speeches, creative entertainment, and spirited debate.
Opening Ceremonies Set the Stage
The day began with Mr. Ssali addressing the assembled student body, carefully explaining the significance of the democratic process they were about to witness. His opening remarks helped students understand that these campaigns represent more than popularity contests, grounding the proceedings in the school's values and emphasizing the responsibility that comes with leadership—they are training grounds for future civic engagement and leadership development.
The ceremony took on a solemn yet celebratory tone when liturgy prefect Sanyu Solomon led the opening prayer, This moment of reflection set an appropriate foundation for the democratic exercise that would follow.
Adding a special dimension to the day's festivities, the student body surprised their headmistress with birthday wishes, creating a warm atmosphere that highlighted the close-knit nature of the Atlas High School community.
Assistant Positions Launch the Democratic Process
Following educational best practices, the campaigns began with assistant positions, allowing a broader range of students to participate in the democratic process while providing valuable experience for future leadership roles.
The Assistant Mess Prefect race between Kayongo Ryonpaul and Zawede Leticiah showcased practical student concerns. Zawede promised to bring back fruit consumption and committed to serving the school's betterment, while Kayongo focused on dietary improvements that resonated strongly with students. His specific promises—adding sugar to Sunday porridge and shortening food lines—earned enthusiastic applause, demonstrating how concrete, relatable proposals capture student attention.
For Assistant Liturgy Prefect, both Mukonda Grace Praise and Ssekyanzi Jethro Peter understood their audience well. Ssekyanzi opened with a religious song that energized the crowd and promised to introduce new religious music, while Mukonda demonstrated leadership by directing the DJ to play appropriate religious music and promising inclusive participation that would welcome day scholars into liturgy leadership roles.
The sanitary assistant candidates—Naluyange Rebecca Patience, Akumu Emilly Mulindwa, and Namwanje Pauline—each addressed cleanliness issues that directly impact student daily life. Particularly noteworthy was Namwanje's promise to end the practice of public bedding inspections, showing sensitivity to student dignity while maintaining hygiene standards.
Naluyange Rebecca Patience, Akumu Emilly Mulindwa, and Namwanje Pauline for Assitant Sanitary Prefect.
Head Monitor Assistants Address Infrastructure Needs
The largest field of candidates emerged for Assistant Head Monitor, with five students competing for the position. Each candidate focused on classroom infrastructure improvements, from ensuring adequate supplies like chalk and dusters to providing proper desks and maintaining clean learning environments. The consistency of these concerns across all candidates highlighted genuine student needs while demonstrating how democratic processes can surface authentic community issues.
Nabaale Noreen's promise to stop collecting money for classroom clocks and ensure all classes have necessary equipment showed understanding of financial pressures on students, while Naava Queen Sumaiyah's commitment to ending the requirement for students to bring brooms.
Main Prefectorate Campaigns Showcase Leadership Vision
The race for Head Prefect provided the day's most compelling political theater, with three candidates offering distinctly different leadership approaches.
Mayanja Erick made a dramatic entrance to Bobi Wine's "Naye Nze Wendi," immediately connecting with student culture while demonstrating his understanding of effective communication. His speech balanced gravitas with accessibility, emphasizing his commitment to service and his ability to bridge gaps between administration and students. When challenged about classroom temperature issues, he showed political wisdom by acknowledging the limits of his influence while promising to address controllable factors like staff-student relationships.
Akun Annet Sharon entered to "In the Bar" and presented perhaps the most comprehensive reform agenda, promising everything from color festivals and talent shows to expanded library resources and mental health support through a proposed counseling club. Her vision of allowing student phones for research purposes showed progressive thinking, though her promise to eliminate Sunday prep time sparked debate about balancing student preferences with academic needs.
Ssenyonjo Abel's entrance to Palaso's "Byabanene" energized the crowd before he delivered a speech rich in metaphor, describing himself as "fertile soil" for positive change. His promise to replace Friday prep with talent development time offered a concrete alternative to traditional academic structures, while his commitment to expanding canteen facilities addressed practical student needs.
The cross-examination between head prefect candidates revealed their ability to think critically under pressure. When questioned about balancing student interests with administrative expectations, each candidate demonstrated diplomatic skills while maintaining their commitment to student advocacy.
Deputy Positions and Specialized Roles
Walugembe Sharif ran unopposed for Deputy Head Prefect Boys, using his platform to emphasize unity and excellence while promising fearless leadership. His confident assertion that he was "already the deputy head prefect" showed both humor and confidence that resonated with students.
The competition for Deputy Head Prefect Girls between Bhenam Venitah Mary Mackriven and Nansamba Sheila Lydia highlighted different leadership styles. Bhenam focused on academic improvements and talent development, while Nansamba promised practical improvements like headbands for female students, showing attention to both dignity and appearance concerns.
Bhenam Venitah Mary Mackriven and Nansamba Sheila Lydia standing for Deputy Head Prefect Girls.
Entertainment and Engagement
Throughout the day, candidates and students provided entertainment that kept energy levels high and demonstrated the creative talents within the school community. Karama's mime performance of Continental by King Promise and Shallipopi, along with Kasozi's interpretation of Tala Afia by Fic Famaica, showed how students could engage with contemporary culture while maintaining appropriate school standards.
The most memorable moment came when sports prefect candidate Nakyeyune Betty campaigned while juggling a ball, perfectly demonstrating her athletic abilities and commitment to her potential role. These creative campaign approaches showed students thinking innovatively about political communication.
The entertainment
Democratic Education in Practice
The Atlas High School campaign day succeeded in providing authentic civic education that extends far beyond textbook learning. Students experienced real democratic participation, from articulating policy positions to defending their ideas under questioning. The cross-examination segments particularly demonstrated advanced democratic skills, teaching students to engage respectfully with opposing viewpoints while maintaining their own positions.
The range of issues addressed—from infrastructure needs to cultural activities, from academic policies to student welfare—showed how democratic processes can surface and address genuine community concerns. When candidates promised specific improvements like better library resources, expanded medical staff, or more inclusive participation in school activities, they were learning to connect with constituent needs while understanding the constraints of institutional change.
Onyango Faith Nyakecho and Namaganda Sarah went head-to-head for Head Monitorship.
The day's proceedings revealed a student body deeply engaged with their educational environment and capable of thoughtful political participation. From detailed policy discussions about curriculum improvements to practical concerns about food service and facility maintenance, the campaigns demonstrated that young people can engage seriously with governance issues when given authentic opportunities to participate.
As these campaigns continue toward election day, Atlas High School has already achieved something significant: providing students with meaningful experience in democratic participation that will serve them throughout their lives as engaged citizens. The combination of serious policy discussion, creative campaigning, and respectful debate creates an educational experience that extends far beyond the classroom, preparing students for active participation in their broader communities.
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