Out of the 42 successful students, seven have been admitted to pursue Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery in various public universities.

By Okidi Patrick

LIRA, UGANDA –April 27, 2026: St. Gracious Secondary School has cemented its position as an academic powerhouse in Northern and Eastern Uganda after 42 of its students secured highly competitive government sponsorships for the 2025/2026 university intake.
The school, popularly known as SAGRASS, dominated the national merit lists, particularly in the science disciplines. Out of the 42 successful students, seven have been admitted to pursue Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery in various public universities.
Other students secured slots in prestigious engineering and design programs, including Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Technical Drawing at Makerere and Kyambogo universities.
According to the school’s principal, Martin Ojok Anyuru, this year’s performance reflects a consistent upward trend in academic excellence. In 2022, the school saw 26 students admitted on government merit, a number that grew to 30 in 2023 and 31 in 2024, before hitting the record 42 this year.
“Academic excellence is our top priority, but we also focus on developing an all-round human being. Concentration on sciences is a must if students are to tap into the opportunities available in the country today,” Anyuru noted.
Dr. Patrick Olet, the Director of St. Gracious Schools, revealed that 29 of the sponsored students will be heading to Makerere University while the rest will proudly head to other universities across the country. He attributed the success to the school’s heavy investment in science laboratories and a dedicated teaching staff.
“Out of the 42 students, seven are going for Medicine at Makerere and other universities. I urge parents to continue encouraging their children to study science subjects, as this is the path the government is prioritizing for national development,” Dr. Olet said.
Parental Pride
Calvin Okello, one of the parents at the school, praised the institution for instilling discipline and a culture of hard work. He noted that without such sponsorships, many parents would struggle to pay for expensive professional courses like Medicine and Engineering.
One of the beneficiaries, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed gratitude to the school administration, noting that his dream of becoming a doctor is now a reality thanks to the government’s support and guidiance of Director Dr. Olet Patrick.
