More than 2,000 students from Nakawa and Kira schools will Saturday compete in original dramas, poems, songs and dances at the Grande Finale for the 6th Annual MDD Competition led by Reach Out Mbuya.

The competition is part of the activities by Reach Out Mbuya to sensitise youths about prevention of the HIV/AIDS scourge.

Other activities which include sports galas and marathons also target to boost self confidence in positive living youths and fight stigma.

Reach Out Mbuya is a community faith-based organization that serves People living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) in Nakawa Division, Kira Municipality, Konakilak town and Butuntumula sub-county in Kampala, Wakiso, Nakaseke and Luwero Districts, providing comprehensive HIV services to over 9,000 PLHIV and supporting over 11,000 Orphans and other Vulnerable Children (OVC).

Since 2012, ROM has organized an annual Music, Dance and Drama (MDD) competition for secondary schools within Nakawa division to encourage the young people to spearhead HIV prevention among their peers.

The youth use MDD to promote and evaluate HIV/AIDS prevention messages through relatable plays, poems, and creative songs and dances.

Last Saturday, more than 2,000 students from six schools in Kira division and five schools in Nakawa division competed at the preliminary level at St. Kizito High School Namugongo.

The divisions competed in different halls with the top three schools in each room advancing to the final level.

Each school created an original composition, a poem, a 15-minute drama and a creative dance around the theme “Show the Way! Re-engaging young people in HIV prevention through Music, Dance and Drama.”

The Grande Finale, to be held this Saturday at the National Theatre from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., will include performances by the top six schools, as well as Guest Artists arranged by Joanita Kawalya.

The Guest of Honor, the First Lady of Uganda, will be represented by Rosemary Nansubuga Seninde, the State Minister for Primary Education.