St Gracious SS Lira ranks top in North and East, sends highest number of students to public universities

St. Gracious Secondary School Lira, is leading both Northern and Eastern Uganda after recording the highest number of students admitted to government public universities across the country.

The school was ranked top with a total of 42 students who qualified under the national merit university admissions scheme in Uganda.

Speaking to journalists at Gracious Palace Hotel in Lira City, the Principal of St. Gracious SS Lira, Martin Ojok, described this as a great achievement for the people of Northern and Eastern Uganda.

He noted that securing the highest number of students qualified to join university for various courses is a milestone for the region.

Ojok added that according to data for the 2025-2026 academic year on national merit university admissions in Uganda, St. Gracious SS Lira has managed to send the highest number of students to public universities.

He emphasised that the school is now consistently ranked as the top institution for contributing to the government-sponsored student intake.

Of the 42 students, 7 were admitted to the Bachelor of Science in Medicine and Surgery. In contrast, only 6 were enrolled in medicine out of 32 students who were admitted on national merit in 2024.

Also read: Visually impaired patients regain sight after surgeries by Lira RRH medical team

Other students were admitted to courses such as BSc in Pharmacy, BSc in Software Engineering, BSc in Public Health, BSc in Nursing Science, Midwifery Science, Biomedical Science, Cytotechnology, Agriculture, Industrial Chemistry, and Animal Production Business Administration.

Additionally, Ojok revealed that in 2024, a total of 32 students were admitted to different public universities in Uganda. In 2023, over 30 qualified on national merit, while in 2022, St. Gracious managed to send 26 students on national merit.

For 2025, the school has scored 42 students, of whom over 18 are female.

Ojok also confirmed that out of the 42 students, 25 are heading to Makerere University under the government sponsorship. The rest will be going to other universities: Lira University (5 students), Mbarara University (5), Mountains of the Moon University (4), Gulu University (1), Kyambogo University (1), and Busitema University (1).