Lira City | Luka Odyek, 17, is a Senior Four student at Dr. Obote College in Lira City. He has been selected by the Uganda Mathematical Society to represent the entire Northern Uganda at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) 2026 training camp.
He is among 15 students chosen for the prestigious program, which will be held at Light Academy Secondary School in Lweza from December 9 to 20, 2026.
The camp aims to identify the best performers who will ultimately represent the country at the international competition scheduled for 2027.
Speaking to the media at the school on Monday, August 3, 2026, the coordinator of the Uganda Mathematical Society at Dr. Obote College, Robert Ocepa (CHEPS), expressed confidence in Odyek’s abilities.
He noted that their students participate in the mathematics competitions annually, and the school has high hopes that Odyek will emerge among the top candidates to represent the nation in next year’s international Olympiad.
Ocepa further explained the selection process, stating that their students first sat for Paper 1, which involved 25 participants. From that group, 15 students were shortlisted to proceed to Paper 2.
Following the second round, Luka was ultimately chosen to attend the IMO training camp in December. He also revealed that this year’s overarching theme is Competency-Based Mathematics.
Additionally, Ocepa highlighted the significant opportunities that await Odyek if he performs well during the December training.
A strong showing could earn him a spot to represent Uganda at the 34th Pan African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO) in Kigali, Rwanda, scheduled for April 2027.
He could be selected for the 5th International Mathematics Summer Camp (IMSC) in Beijing, China, in June 2027, and potentially qualify for the India International Mathematics Competition (IICM) in July 2027.
The school administration has called on Odyek’s parents to provide the necessary support, as the training will take place during the holiday period. “As a school, we shall fully stand behind Odyek to ensure he is well represented at this training,” Ocepa stated.
He also appealed to all parents whose children have been recognized for their talents in any area to cooperate with the school in nurturing such abilities.
Reflecting on his journey, Luka shared that he first joined the mathematics competition while in Senior Two. “Through the rigorous practice we have done, including with our fellow Senior Six students, I believe I will do my best and ensure that Dr. Obote College is represented at the national level,” he said.
He encouraged his fellow students not to give up on their pursuits, adding, “By God’s grace, I was selected to represent the entire region. I urge all students to maintain discipline, both at home and at school.”
Denis Mola, a Senior Six student, told journalists that this level of mathematics competition requires a sharp and brilliant mind to tackle diverse and challenging questions. He urged parents to always support their children when such opportunities arise.
“We are proud to have Odyek representing our region, and we believe that with his intelligence, he will be selected again to represent the country,” Mola added.
The deputy headteacher of Dr. Obote College, Tom Ogwang, expressed the school’s immense pride in Odyek’s achievement.
“We are very happy to have one of our students selected to represent the region. This is the caliber of students we enroll at Dr. Obote College,” he said.
He reaffirmed the school’s commitment to working closely with Odyek’s parents to ensure that he does not miss out on this great achievement.
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