Over Senior Four and Senior Six candidates from Bukedea Comprehensive Schools and Kongunga High School on Friday after the Bishop of Soroti Catholic Diocese, Dr. Joseph Eciru Oliach laid hands on them ahead of UNEB exams starting Monday.
The massive dedication service held at Bukedea Stadium coincided with Uganda’s 64th Independence Day celebrations.
Candidates were drawn from Kongunga High School and Bukedea Comprehensive School campuses.
The Bishop said it was a double blessing for the country and the learners.
“Your teachers handed you to UNEB on Thursday, but I am handing you to God,” Bishop Eciru told the candidates.
He urged them to pray before every paper and turn classroom knowledge into productive results.
In a surprise spiritual moment, 37 students stepped forward and committed to join seminaries to become Catholic priests and nuns. Bishop Eciru officially registered them.
He challenged S6 candidates to score AAA in honour of their proprietor Annet Anita Among, and S4 candidates to get Division One.
Bukedea County MP Hon. Beecham David Okwere, who represented school proprietor Anita Annet Among, announced a Shs2 million cash prize for the best S6 candidate for university shopping.
Okwere said those wishing Among bad should stop, saying she remains committed to serving Bukedea and the country as NRM Second National Vice Chairperson.
Headteacher Mr.Nadanga Enoch said the candidates are ready, noting that the S6 class were the pioneers of the new competence-based O-Level curriculum.
Resident Director Madam Rose Asio and District Education Officer Okurut Stephen attended.
Mr.Okurut warned headteachers to guide students well when filling university admission forms to avoid missing out on selection, and urged them to embrace technical education.
UNEB S4 exams start Monday October 13, while UACE starts next month.
However, Mr.Omunyokol John Robert one of the teachers said they have done all that was required to prepare the candidates as the syllabus was fully covered .
On the pledge of the member of parliament Hon Okwere one of the students Faith Juliet Ajulong (BCM) said most of them were were going to score AAA our the only yardstick is going to be in the subsidiary subjects and again Incase of a tie the schools administration may may consider other areas like discipline ,cooperation teamwork among others.
Esther Adeke (PCB) said MP Okwere should consider all who will score AAA even if he lowers it to UGX 700,000.