KAMPALA, UGANDA – Three talented young Ugandans, Peace Kamsiyonchukwu Umeokonkwo (12), Firidaus Muhammad Nakitende (11), and Timothy Rwasiina (12), have been selected to represent Uganda at the global season finals of the First Lego League (FLL) robotics competition in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
“Look at how things are done, pick what is the best, even make it better, and come back here so that tomorrow we can tilt the way things are being done in terms of technology and bring it to Africa,” said Amos Kankunda, the Rwampala legislator.
“I appeal to every parent, every school, that in order to have a better Uganda, a different generation focused and inquisitive problem-solving critical thinker generation, we need to embrace STEM robotics. That is our vision, and we don’t want to leave any child behind,” said Hannah Melon Kenyanji, General Manager of NextGen Innovators Uganda and Country Director of First Lego League Uganda (FLL).
“I call upon the nation, Uganda, all stakeholders, to embrace technology, science, engineering, art, and math, stroke robotics, to be able to transform our economy into a more sustainable economy, making Uganda better Uganda,” she said.
The team, known as Team Drasticals, qualified for the global finals after winning the national robotics tournament held in Uganda last December. NextGen Innovators Uganda, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Coderina Edutech Nigeria, facilitated their journey.
The team will showcase their talents at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, USA, from June 7th to 9th.