Soroti University have emerged champions in this year’s edition of the Uganda National Medical quiz held at Soroti university over the weekend. The Teso based university amassed 95 points defeating their closest rival IUIU and snatching the trophy from last year’s winners Makerere university who took third place in the competition that saw 9 universities turning up for the event.
The champions were inspired by a team of 12 medical students who excelled in a thrilling competition that saw KIU fail to turn up and Lira pull out despite initially showing up at Soroti University.
Dr. Kirya Fred, Associate Professor Soroti university and Dr. Joseph Epodoi, a renowned urologist and Senior consultant surgeon at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital handing over the trophy to Soroti University team.
Despite the scorching heat of the dry season in Teso, Soroti university team showed their resilience outmatching their closest rival Islamic University In Uganda who score 84 points, settling for second place. Makerere university team, despite showing up probably more energized as the defending champions with a team of moral boosters that kept the tempo hotter than the already hot environment, settled for 3rd position bagging 83 points, one point behind IUIU. The annual quiz organized by Medical students under their umbrella body, Federation of Uganda Medical Students Association was last year won by Makerere University.
The winning team posing with the trophy.
The event hosted by Soroti university was attended by UCU, Busitema University, Mbarara university of science and technology, Lira university IUIU, Kabale university, King Ceasor university, Gulu university and the host Soroti university. Equator and Kampala International University did not show up for the competition due to unclear reasons. While Lira opted to be spectators even after showing up because they only have first- and second-years students. The quiz questions covers all the course units of the 5-year medical course.
With every university fielding twelve students, Soroti university proved their worth showing their wits and prowess to outsmart the last year’s winners and other competitors.
The next year’s venue will be decided in the annual general assembly which will take place in Equator university this year.
The president of the Federation of Uganda Medical Students Association, (FUMSA) Ms. Nakayenga Pauline Diana, a final year student at Islamic University in Uganda, underscored the importance of the medical quiz and called upon the universities and students to always collaborate to promote teamwork. She also thanked the members for electing her to serve them. Nakayenga Pauline and her executive board were elected last year to serve a one-year term which will end in December 2025.
Final Scoresheet for the medical quiz
With questions set by Uganda Medical Association from different course units. Each university takes their best five to the podium for a specific set of questions related to the course units offered at a medical school.