LIRA CITY – St. Gracious Secondary School (SAGRASS) in Lira City is celebrating a major academic milestone after 53 of its students secured admission to public universities under the 2026/27 National Merit Scheme, reinforcing the school’s growing reputation as one of northern Uganda’s top-performing academic institutions.
The admissions list, released this week, highlights exceptional performance across a wide range of disciplines, with medicine and other health science programmes dominating the placements.
Seven students earned admission to pursue the Bachelor of Science in Medicine and Surgery, with five securing places at Makerere University and two joining Lira University. Those admitted to Makerere’s highly competitive medical programme include Ruth Amono, Emmanuel Opoo, Rosemary Aumar, Moses Abongo and Rogers Odur.
The school’s outstanding performance also extended to other health-related courses. Two students were admitted to study Pharmacy, two Nursing Science, three Midwifery Science, two Biomedical Sciences, and one Public Health, reflecting SAGRASS’s strong academic foundation in science education.
Beyond the medical field, the students earned places in several other competitive degree programmes. Seven were admitted to study Agriculture, while five secured places in Science with Education. Others will pursue Aquaculture and Water Resources Management, Industrial Chemistry, Commerce, Business Administration, Software Engineering, and other professional courses.
The success continued under the District Quota Scheme, where seven additional students gained admission to Makerere University, Gulu University, Soroti University and Lira University.
Three more students also secured university places through the Talented Sports Persons Scheme and will pursue their studies at Makerere University Business School (MUBS), Gulu University and Kyambogo University while continuing to develop their sporting talents.
School administrators described the achievement as a reflection of the dedication of both students and teachers, as well as the institution’s long-standing commitment to academic excellence under its motto, “Education For a Difference.”
“This achievement demonstrates the hard work of our learners, the commitment of our teaching staff, and the unwavering support from parents and stakeholders. We remain committed to producing graduates who will make meaningful contributions to society,” the administration said.
Makerere University emerged as the leading destination for the majority of the successful candidates, followed by Lira, Gulu, Kyambogo and Soroti universities.
The latest admissions further strengthen St. Gracious Secondary School’s reputation as a centre of academic excellence in northern Uganda, producing graduates capable of competing for some of the country’s most sought-after university programmes.
The school is located along Adagayeia Road in Erute South, Lira City, and continues to attract students seeking quality education grounded in discipline, excellence and holistic development.
