Fifteen best 2023 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) candidates of St. Mary’s College Lugazi have won themselves sh10.8m each as a reward for making their school rank among the best schools countrywide.
The school headteacher, Emmanuel Ofwono has identified the lucky students as Elly Ocen, Vincent Ssuuna, Shemaiah Kintu and Judith Lydia Acio who scored ten aggregates out the ten subjects.
Ofwono says that the remaining eleven students scored eight aggregates out of the best eight subjects. These include; Priscilla Acen, Aaron Opus, Victor Kayanja, Faith Sarafina Ladwong, Azaria Hondiko Malinga, and Yasin Masinde. Others are; Justine Nabukenya, Tracy Nattimba, Tonny Arthure Ogwal, Gilbert Wasike and Jonah Kutosi Wekoye.
The headteacher made the revelation before the parents, teachers and students during the thanksgiving mass led by the Lugazi diocesan bishop, Christopher Kakooza held at the school campus on Saturday.
Ofwono said that the sh10.8m awarded to each of the 15 best students is simply a token of appreciation for beneficiaries for their hard work and dedication that made the school outshine the rest of the schools not only in Buikwe district but also across the country.
“This money is going to be computed in the school fees of these students so that they can have uninterrupted two years of ‘A’ level education,” he said.
St. Mary’s College Lugazi registered 318 first grades and 66 second grades from the 2023 UCE results, which results Ofwono said prompted the school to hold a thanksgiving service for the wonderful performance.
For the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE), the headteacher says that the school posted four students with the maximum 20 points. He adds that all the candidates who sat for UACE 2023 scored the principal passes that can enable them to join different universities for different competitive courses.
The best UACE students include; James Elungat (BCM/ICT), Dennis Wangota (PCM/ICT), Allen Nambogo (HED/ICT) and Esther Niragire (HTD/ICT.
The school rewarded the best UACE students with sh3m in cash which Ofwono said is to help them make some shopping as they prepare to join universities.
During the homily, Bp. Kakooza urged the teachers to be exemplary and very careful while dealing with the students saying that the latter emulate them in whatever they do and say.
“Many students end up talking, moving and dressing like their teachers. If the teachers are showing the best and good examples, that is ok but when they are doing otherwise, then it’s regrettable,” he said.
On the side of the students, Bp. Kakooza reminded them that the peak of human life is the time of youth, which they are living now.
He therefore said that the time they are living now, being the epitome of human life is so precious adding that therefore, it’s the time they should make fundamental choices for their life now and in the future.
“The moment you mess up this time of yours now, just know that your future is doomed. If you make the right choices, be guaranteed of a bright future. However, passing through this age is so challenging, some people think that it’s a time for enjoying your youthful time, they want to go clubbing, enjoying their beauty, eating well, traveling and hanging out. But that is wrong, it is at this time that you are supposed to make rightful choices. Though others wait until they are 45 years, but that that is wrong,” he said adding;
“Remember you are at crossroads, and when you are at crossroads, stop, don’t act. Whenever you are at crossroads, pose and wait! At crossroads, someone will come and help you, and who is that one? Your parents, may be they did not go to school as you are, but they have brought you up and have life experience, therefore listen to their advice as they help you to decide. In second position are your teachers because parents handed you over to them.”
Bp. Kakooza also recommended people who have lived life and gone through it well with expertise in different fields saying schools must make arrangements to have those people (role models) have sessions with the students because they help them make right decisions.
“At least the Church has got a program to send chaplains to different schools. These chaplains are learned in different fields that include human life, psychology, faith and religion, among others,” he said.
He also asked them to use their God given life gifts/talents to make the right decisions; “some of you are so talented in different ways, you find someone solving mathematics equations without any problem, many other gifts.” Bp. Kakooza also confirmed students into the Catholic faith.
The school director, Moses Ssenyonjo has thanked parents for entrusting St. Mary’s College School Lugazi with their children adding that the school is also determined to help them reap big from their four or six years they are to spend there.
Ssenyonjo who is also a Member of the Buganda Lukiiko (Parliament of Buganda) deputizing the chairperson of the education committee has called upon parents to stop taking each and every scholarship awarded to their children more so to those who pass with flying colors.
He said that in most cases, parents mess up when they change their children from the schools that may have laid their foundation that made them pass highly to the schools that are substandard only because they awarded them scholarships.
The Buikwe District Education Officer, Julius Musasizi Kizito acknowledged St. Mary’s College Lugazi for lighting the district’s education banner high.
The school has also awarded teachers for their tireless efforts that has resulted into students passing UNEB with flying colors. The function has attracted a number of guests that include; the Mayor of Lugazi Municipality, John Bosco Asea Onzima, Dr. Lilian Matovu, director Our Lady of Africa Schools, the DPC Lugazi, John Lukooto, among others.
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