Ian Karlton Muyimba, an 18-year-old Ugandan public speaker, has finished third in the 2026 English-Speaking Union International Public Speaking Competition held in London.
Muyimba represented Uganda in the grand final of the international competition, which reportedly involved more than 100,000 students from 45 countries.
He competed against five other finalists at the Royal Institution in London under the theme, “Lighting One Candle.”
Omar Hazari of Sri Lanka won the competition, while Romania’s Theodora Todoran finished second.
The other finalists were Olivia Wright from Australia, Jordan Albert Williams from Bermuda, and Konstantin Svilokos from Serbia.
Muyimba, a former pupil of Kampala Parents Primary School, said the competition gave him an opportunity to represent Uganda on an international platform.
“Opportunities to come to London don’t usually come to Uganda, especially for a young person like me. But to be chosen to come and participate in the biggest public speaking competition is a dream come true,” he said.
“I believe that I’ve held the pen and I’ve been given the paper, and I’ve written the first sentence about the next story of my country, and that sentence began in London.”
The six finalists had qualified after winning national public speaking competitions in their respective countries.
The competition’s head judge, Zaven Kouyoumdjian, a Lebanese journalist, broadcaster and author, said public speaking helps young people build confidence and promotes understanding among people from different backgrounds.
Participants also took part in cultural and educational activities during the week-long event.
These included visits to Tate Modern and London County Hall, as well as public speaking training sessions conducted by experienced professionals.
The International Public Speaking Competition was established in 1980 and is one of the English-Speaking Union’s flagship programmes.
It seeks to strengthen communication skills, cultural exchange and international understanding among young people.
Participants must be aged between 16 and 20 and must have lived permanently in the country they represent for at least two years.
Rebecca Agaba, a public speaking coach at Fluency 101 in Kampala, praised Muyimba’s performance, saying success in public speaking requires deliberate training, regular practice and a strong command of communication skills.
The finalists’ speeches demonstrated critical thinking, confidence and the ability to engage audiences on international issues.
Source: Adapted from a New Vision report and republished with permission.
