St. Gracious Secondary School (SAGRASS) has set a target of sending more than 100 students to public universities on government sponsorship next year, following a steady rise in the number of its students securing government-sponsored places.
The school’s principal, Martin Ojok Anyuru, said SAGRASS sent 53 students to public universities on government sponsorship this year, up from 44 in 2025 and 32 in 2024.
Ojok said the increase was a reflection of the school’s growing academic strength and its contribution to education and socio-economic development in Lira and the wider northern Uganda region.
He said since its establishment, SAGRASS had contributed to the development of the area by attracting qualified teachers, creating employment opportunities and increasing property values around the school.
Ojok said the school had also set a benchmark for neighbouring institutions in Lira and northern Uganda, creating a culture of academic excellence and putting the region on the national and international education map.
He said SAGRASS had given its learners opportunities to participate in international academic competitions, including the International Chemistry Olympiad in Brazil in 2025, where three students represented the school.
In 2026, another SAGRASS student travelled to Moscow for an international academic engagement, further exposing learners to opportunities beyond Uganda.
Ojok said the school’s academic performance had also gained national recognition, with SAGRASS ranking second nationally in Chemistry performance and third in Biology, according to the school.
He said the achievements demonstrated the school’s commitment to providing education that meets both national and international standards.
The remarks were made during a dedication ceremony held on October 3, 2026, for 1,092 candidates from the school’s main campus and Leo-Atubo campus.
The guest of honour, Dr Moses Odongo, the overseer and Archbishop of the National Fellowship of Born Again Pentecostal Churches of Uganda (NFBPC), urged the candidates to commit themselves to God as they prepare for their examinations.
Odongo told the candidates to remain calm, pray and trust God for wisdom, strength and peace during the examination period.
He also urged parents to continuously encourage and guide their children and keep them in prayer as they sit their examinations.
The archbishop commended the teachers for dedicating their time and knowledge to preparing the learners, saying their efforts were helping to shape future leaders.
The Bishop of NFBPC Lango, Joseph Omara, pledged to construct a borehole at the SAGRASS Leo-Atubo campus on Wednesday as a token of appreciation to the school for educating his daughter.
The chairperson of the Board of Governors, Dr Prof. Marus Eton, urged the candidates to remain disciplined and self-confident, cautioning them against doubting the knowledge and skills acquired from their teachers.
“Remain disciplined and have self-confidence. Do not have low confidence in the knowledge you have received from your teachers. Believe in yourselves,” Eton told the candidates.
He commended Dr Patrick Olet, the director of St. Gracious Senior Secondary Schools, for providing affordable education that meets national and international standards to learners in Lango and beyond.
SAGRASS was officially opened in 2019 by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and has since expanded its academic programmes and footprint in northern Uganda.
The school has consistently positioned itself among the leading academic institutions in northern Uganda and Uganda, with its leaders attributing the performance to investment in teachers, discipline, academic exposure and support from parents.