EXCLUSIVE — Ikwera Girls SS, Aduku Launches Bursary to Boost Girls’ Enrollment

EXCLUSIVE — Ikwera Girls SS, Aduku, Launches Bursary to Boost Girls’ Enrollment

By Ezra Eddy Kabanda

LANGO, UGANDA — Ikwera Girls Secondary School in Aduku has announced a bursary scheme aimed at increasing girls’ enrollment across Lango sub-region and Northern Uganda. The Catholic-founded, government-aided institution said the first 20 female candidates who score Division One in the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) will receive bursaries.

Head teacher Grace Thorach confirmed that the Board of Governors approved the initiative to promote girls’ education in a region still rebuilding from decades of conflict. “We want to remove financial barriers for high-achieving girls and encourage families to invest in secondary education,” Thorach said.

Ikwera Girls, a long-standing school in the North renowned for holistic education, says the bursary offer follows a recent academic revival driven by a dedicated, highly qualified staff and stronger parental engagement. The school also emphasizes moral formation through daily prayers, Bible lessons, and guidance and counseling services.

The school has a strong track record in both O- and A-Level examinations and is credited with putting Kwania district on the national academic map. For more than five consecutive years, Ikwera Girls has dominated girls’ football, volleyball, and netball, and consistently identifies and nurtures student talents in sport and the arts.

School officials attribute sustained results to several factors:

- Spacious, secure dormitories within a fenced, attractive campus.

- A fully equipped laboratory rated among the best in the northern region; practical science lessons begin from S1.

- A well-stocked library and a computer lab with over 24 networked workstations to support IT lessons and research.

- Reliable water sources (piped water, borehole, and reserve tank), electricity, and a standby generator.

- A well-resourced Games and Sports department.

- An administration that actively engages with parents to address challenges.

Bursary specifics and how to apply

- Eligibility: The bursary targets the first 20 qualifying girls admitted with Division One results in the PLE.

- Application process: Interested eligible candidates and their parents are urged to contact the school administration at Aduku Town Council for detailed application procedures and deadlines. Prospective applicants should prepare copies of PLE results, birth certificates, and parent/guardian income information as part of the intake process.

Community impact and future plans

Education stakeholders say the bursary program could serve as a model for expanding access to secondary education for girls across the region, especially in troubled or economically disadvantaged communities. The school intends to monitor and report on enrollment trends, scholarship outcomes, and female retention rates to guide future initiatives.

- Ikwera Girls has traditionally drawn students from across Lango sub-region and neighboring districts, benefiting from partnerships with local churches and community organizations.

For more information or to express interest in the bursary program, contact Ikwera Girls Secondary School administration at Aduku Town Council.