Lamwo | Paluga Primary School emerged the overall winner of the 2026 Lamwo district Music, Dance and Drama (MDD) festival after scoring 1,031 points, beating defending champions Palabek Gem Primary School, who finished second with 1,011 points.

Beyogoya Primary School from Palabek Gem sub-county took third position with 993 points, while Palabek Kal Primary School finished fourth with 987 points.

The district festival brought together learners from schools that qualified through sub-county competitions to showcase their talents in music, dance and drama.

The competition was held at Child Care Primary School in Padibe town council, with learners presenting performances designed not only to entertain but also to communicate messages on social, cultural and economic issues.

The winning performance by Paluga Primary School earned it the top position as schools competed for an opportunity to represent Lamwo district at the Northern Uganda Regional Music, Dance and Drama Festival, scheduled to take place in Pader district from August 13 to 15, 2026.

The festival was held under the theme, “Promoting Production and Productivity for Social and Economic Transformation.”

Learners used music, dance and drama to address issues including agricultural production, nutrition, HIV prevention, environmental conservation, gender equality, cultural preservation and community development.

One of the notable performances came from learners at Child Care Primary School, who used creative drama and music to promote banana production as a way of improving food security and household incomes.

The learners also used their performance to raise awareness about HIV prevention and the need for collective efforts towards ending HIV/AIDS by 2030.

Otim Richard, headteacher of Child Care Primary School, said the festival provides learners with an important platform to develop confidence, teamwork, creativity and communication skills.

He said co-curricular activities complement classroom learning by giving children opportunities to express themselves, develop leadership abilities and appreciate Uganda’s cultural heritage.

The festival was adjudicated by Apire Tonny and Obwoch David, who also guided participating schools through corrections identified during the performances.

The adjudicators made some corrections in the presence of the schools, enabling teachers and learners to understand areas where their performances needed improvement.

They encouraged schools to take the feedback positively and use the corrections to improve their performances in subsequent competitions.

However, participation remained a concern during the festival, with some schools and sub-counties that had qualified failing to send their representatives.

Okeny Samuel, Lamwo District General Secretary of the MDD Committee, said the absence of several qualifying schools reduced the level of competition and could affect planning and resource mobilisation for future festivals.

Okeny called for administrative intervention to strengthen participation and ensure that all learners who qualify through the sub-county level are given an opportunity to compete at district level.

He said equal participation is important because music, dance and drama provide learners with opportunities to identify and develop talents that may not necessarily be reflected through academic performance.

Lamwo District Education Officer Banabas Langoya appreciated schools that brought their pupils to participate in the festival, saying the event gives children an opportunity to showcase and develop their talents.

Langoya, however, urged sub-counties that failed to bring children to the festival not to repeat the practice.

He warned that failure to give learners opportunities to participate in such activities could deny them a chance to discover, nurture and develop their talents.

The District Education Officer called on schools, teachers and local leaders to continue supporting music, dance and drama alongside classroom education.

The festival demonstrated the role of performing arts in promoting creativity, confidence, teamwork, communication and cultural identity among learners.

With Paluga Primary School taking the district title and Palabek Gem Primary School settling for second place, attention now turns to preparations for the regional competition in Pader, where Lamwo will seek to showcase its best talents against other districts in Northern Uganda.

The festival organisers say continued support for co-curricular activities will be essential in ensuring that more learners get opportunities to discover their talents and contribute positively to their communities.