By Okidi Patrick —
LIRA, UGANDA – St. Gracious Secondary School (SAGRAS) in Lira has achieved a remarkable feat, securing the top position in Northern Uganda and an impressive 13th rank nationally in the highly anticipated 2024/2025 merit admissions. The school’s success is attributed to over 33 of its students gaining admission through the rigorous national merit scheme, as outlined in a report released this week.
The national rankings, which considered students admitted to public universities across the country including Makerere, Kyambogo, Gulu, Lira, Mbarara, and Busitema, saw Uganda Martyr’s SS Namagongo lead with 71 candidates. St. Andrea Kahwa’s College Hoima followed closely in second place with over 68 students, while St. Mary’s SS Kitende secured the third national position with 66 successful candidates.
Other notable institutions in the top tier included Mengo SS and King’s College Budo, both with 65 admitted candidates, Seeta High School with over 59 learners, Amus College with 57 candidates, Gombe SS with 46, and St. Joseph’s Naggalama with 43, among others.
Within the Northern region, St. Gracious SS Lira’s 13th-place national ranking firmly established it as the undisputed leader. Following St. Gracious was Wisdom High School Akalo in Kole District, which secured the 43rd national position and second in the north, with over 15 candidates admitted through the merit scheme.
Mr. Martin Ojok, the Principal of St. Gracious Schools Lira, expressed pride in the achievement while also setting ambitious future goals. “As school management, our aim is to improve from number 13 to number one countrywide in the 2025-2026 rankings,” Mr. Ojok stated when contacted.
This latest academic triumph is not an isolated incident for St. Gracious. The institution has previously garnered international recognition, with its students emerging as the second-best in Africa at the International Mendeleev Chemistry Olympiad held in Brazil. The school has confirmed that preparations are already underway to send another group of students to represent Uganda in next year’s competition, signaling high expectations for continued success on the global stage.
Located in Adagayela, Boke Ward, Lira City East Division, St. Gracious Secondary School, a Christian-founded institution, attributes its consistent excellence to an integration of rigorous academics with strong moral and spiritual values. The school’s emphasis on science, mathematics, and ICT, coupled with promoting co-curricular activities like cultural development, drama, and patriotism clubs, fosters holistic student growth, positioning it as a beacon of education in Northern Uganda.
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