A championship built to turn students into confident leaders
The Karume Inter-Schools Debate Championship Series (KIDCS) is East Africa's home for competitive debate, public speaking, and the spoken word — bringing schools together across borders to think critically, speak boldly, and lead.
Our mission
Every student deserves a stage to be heard
We use the discipline of formal debate to build the skills that schools rarely teach but employers and universities prize most: critical thinking, evidence-based reasoning, composure under pressure, and the confidence to speak with conviction.
Across four editions we have grown from a single local tournament into an international series — bilingual in English and Kiswahili, open to government and private schools alike, and broadcast to audiences at the venue, on television, and online.
What we stand for
Access for all
Government-school teams compete free of charge through sponsor subsidy — talent, not fees, decides who takes the floor.
Rigour & fairness
Internationally-recognised formats and a transparent, criteria-based judging app keep every round consistent and defensible.
Safeguarding first
Every event runs under a published child-protection policy. The wellbeing of young participants comes before everything else.
The journey so far
I
Edition I · Founding
The first inter-schools championship is held — a handful of schools, one venue, a big idea.
II
Edition II · Growth
Participation doubles; the World Schools format and a structured adjudication panel are introduced.
III
Edition III · Regional
Teams from neighbouring countries join — the series becomes truly East African and bilingual.
IV
Edition IV · Broadcast
Live scoring and on-screen graphics bring the finals to television and online audiences for the first time.
Leadership & governance
Named accountability and clear governance — the foundation funders and government partners require.
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Rhamadani Bihigwa
Chief Executive Officer
Founder of the championship; leads strategy, partnerships and competition operations.
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Head of Adjudication
Oversees judge training, scoring standards and competition integrity.
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Schools & Partnerships Lead
Manages school relationships, sponsorships and institutional outreach.
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Operations & Safeguarding
Runs event logistics and the child-protection framework.
Registration & legal status
KIDC Ltd — a company registered in Tanzania operating the championship series and all associated events. Registration details available on request.
Financial transparency
Annual impact and financial overview published each season. Sponsor funds are tracked against the teams and schools they support.
Policies
Safeguarding / child protection, privacy & data handling, and anti-corruption policies govern every event. Read the policies →
Want the full picture?
Request our impact report and partnership briefing, or see the competitions that make it all happen.
