BREAKING: Angelika S.S., Top Lira UCE School, Offers Free Mattresses to S1 Entrants to Boost Enrollment

By Daniel Kica 

Lira, Uganda – In a bid to boost secondary school enrollment in the Lango sub-region and Northern Uganda, Angelika Secondary School has distributed free mattresses to students joining Senior One for the 2026 academic year at  Angelika Secondary School.

At least 50 newly admitted Senior One students have so far received mattresses as they prepare to begin classes. School authorities say the initiative is part of a broader strategy to ease the financial burden on parents and encourage more families to enroll their children in secondary education.

The development comes at a time when many households in Northern Uganda continue to face economic challenges that make it difficult to provide all the requirements needed for boarding school.

Addressing the media at the school premises, the Chief Executive Director, Dr. Peter Oluge, explained that the provision of mattresses is intended to complement parents’ efforts in paying school fees.

“Many parents manage to raise tuition fees, but they struggle to provide essential boarding items such as mattresses and other scholastic materials. This support is meant to reduce that burden and ensure that every child studies in a comfortable environment,” Dr. Oluge said.

He added that each mattress is durable and designed to last throughout a student’s Ordinary Level education, up to Senior Four. Upon completion of the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), students will be allowed to take the mattresses home, giving them a sense of ownership and long-term benefit.

Dr. Oluge further revealed that the program will also benefit students joining Senior Five (S.5) when they report for the new term. The school has already procured more than 1,000 mattresses, which will be distributed in phases to students in Senior One and Senior Five  who report to Angelika Secondary School with plans to expand coverage in the coming years.

Speaking about academic performance, Dr. Oluge noted that the school has consistently ranked among the top performers in national examinations. In the most recent UCE results, Angelika Secondary School emerged as the leading school in Lira District, particularly excelling in science subjects. The strong performance aligns with government priorities aimed at strengthening science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.

The school administration also commended parents and the wider Lira community for their continued trust and support, pledging to maintain high academic standards while introducing practical initiatives that directly address learners’ needs.

Education stakeholders in the region have welcomed the mattress distribution program, describing it as a timely and innovative intervention that could help improve enrollment, retention, and overall student welfare in Northern Uganda.

By combining academic excellence with social responsibility, Angelika Secondary School is positioning itself not only as a center of quality education but also as a champion of community-driven solutions to educational challenges.