Kole’s Wisdom High School ranked 22nd nationally in 2024 UACE: tops in northern Uganda

Wisdom High School in Kole district has once again demonstrated its commitment to academic excellence by ranking 22nd nationally in the 2024 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) results.

The school, which also emerged as the top-performing academic school in northern Uganda, commemorated its remarkable achievement with a thanksgiving ceremony and reward event held on Sunday at its campus in Akalo Town Council, Kole.

The event was marked by the distribution of shs36 million in rewards, with shs30 million going to teachers and general staff for their dedication and shs6 million going to the best-performing candidates.

The school’s outstanding performance has not only brought pride to the Kole district, but has also strengthened its reputation as a leading educational institution in the region.

Wisdom High School’s rise to 22nd place nationally is a significant improvement from its 25th ranking in 2023.

In northern Uganda, the school maintained its top ranking, cementing its reputation as an academic beacon. This year, six candidates received the maximum possible 20 points, a significant increase from the single candidate who accomplished the same feat in 2023.

The school’s Executive Director, Ambrose Ogwal, attributed the success to the combined efforts of students, teachers, and parents.

“We do not run this school for business; we provide quality education at an affordable cost. Our goal is to add value to the education system in the Lango Sub-region and bridge the gap with schools in Central and Western Uganda.”

The top-performing candidates, including Adoi Tamali, Obia Oscar, Okuta Jallam Benjamin, Owidi Leone Howard, Odongo Daniel, and Akello Loyce, were each awarded shs500,000 to support their university education.

Additionally, candidates who scored 19 points and above received facilitation for their academic journeys.

Wisdom produced seven candidates with 19 points, 15 with 18 points, 14 with 17 points, 33 with 16 points, and 24 with 15 points, among others, out of 222 candidates who registered and sat for UACE 2024.

Ogwal also highlighted the importance of value addition in education, citing examples of students like Odongo Daniel, who scored 45 in UCE and achieved 20 points in UACE, and Akello Loyce, who improved from 41 in UCE to 20 points in UACE.

“This is what we call value addition. I commend the teachers, parents, and students for their hard work and dedication,” he added.

Wisdom High School currently sits on 51 acres of land and has a total enrollment of 1,945 students. It employs 80 teaching staff and over 35 general staff, all of whom contribute to its success.

Ogwal expressed gratitude to the community for their support, particularly in providing land for the school’s expansion. “Let us not be jealous of development. I encourage others with land near schools to donate it for the promotion of education in our region,” he said.

The Senior Education Officer of Dokolo District and former Mayor of Lira Municipality, Pastor Morrish Odung Omara, who is also a member of the school’s Board of Governors, commended Wisdom High School for its outstanding performance.

“I want to assure parents that the education department in Kole is very proud of this achievement. Wisdom High School is number one in Northern Uganda, and this is a very big achievement,” he said.

Pastor Odung also emphasized the importance of supporting local schools. “There is no examination malpractice here. The school has effective teaching and hardworking staff. Parents should value our schools within Lango and stop sending their children to Kampala,” he added.

Speaking as the chief guest, Kole district LC5 chairperson Andrew Moses Awany urged other schools in the region to follow Wisdom High School’s lead.

“It is one thing to be in school, but another to achieve excellence. I encourage students to respect their teachers and work hard to achieve their goals,” he said.

Awany also called on parents to prioritize education. “We all come from poor families, but we must promote education in Lango for our children to succeed. As Kole district, we stand fully behind any investor who brings development to our region,” he stated.

Wisdom High School, with its consistent improvement in national rankings and commitment to quality education, is well-positioned to carry on its legacy of excellence.