By Mike Rwothomio

The Alur Kingdom has received a new offer of half-bursary opportunities in health and science-related programmes from the Abim Institute of Health Sciences. The exact number of slots available under the scheme has not yet been specified.

In a formal letter addressed to the Prime Minister of the Alur Kingdom, Mr. Jonathan Opio, Director of Abim Institute of Health Sciences, expressed the institution’s commitment to extending half-bursaries to youths and women.

He noted that initiative aims to promote district development through the training of skilled health workers who can deliver effective health services to local communities.

“We are now interested in extending our services to the people of Alur Kingdom, especially youths and women, so as to promote development of the district and provide health services to the people,” the letter reads in part.

The Abim Institute of Health Sciences is based at the Faculty of Education, Universal Primary Teachers College, in Abim District.

According to the Director, the bursary programme forms part of the institute’s broader efforts to ensure equitable access to health training opportunities for learners from the Eastern, Northern, and West Nile regions of Uganda.The institute has in recent years built strong partnerships with various cultural institutions to train qualified health professionals in the Lango, Karamoja, and Acholi sub-regions.

Programmes on offer

The following courses are available under the scheme:

• National Certificate in Nursing (2½ years) 
• National Certificate in Midwifery (2½ years)
• Certificate in Pharmacy (2 years)  
• International Computer Certificate (1 year)

The Director further stated that the institute is prepared to offer employment opportunities to graduates with practical skills in nursing, midwifery, pharmacy, and computer studies.

The Alur Kingdom leadership has welcomed the initiative. Prime Minister (Jadipu) Prince Lawrence Opar Angala described the half-bursary scheme as a valuable opportunity for professional skills development in the health sector.

“We welcome this initiative. This will provide opportunity for promoting professional training of youths in the health sector in order to strengthen government’s efforts in service delivery to the kingdom’s largely rural communities with very low health workers’ ratio to the population,” Opar said.

Prince Opar assured that the Kingdom will actively mobilise eligible students for the various programmes and looks forward to a sustainable long-term partnership focused on girls’ and youth skills empowerment.

He called upon prospective students from all chiefdoms to take advantage of the tuition-subsidised opportunity by applying through the Kingdom’s Minister of Education and Environment or the Prime Minister’s office located at Yamo Trading Centre, Atyak Sub-County, Zombo District.

The Alur Kingdom has reiterated its openness to genuine, government-recognised institutions willing to partner in providing quality education and training support to its subjects.

His Majesty Ubimu Phillip Rauni Ularker III, the Alur King, continues to champion education across all platforms, consistently encouraging his subjects to prioritise skills acquisition and formal learning.

This latest offer comes after the Kingdom secured 50 half-bursary slots from Nebbi School of Health Sciences for the July 2026 intake in April.

Last year, it also received 436 bursary offers for vocational courses at Erussi Institute of Science and Technology (EISS) and Fountain Head Institute of Management and Technology.

Additionally, His Majesty Isabarongo Mwatansozi Mwogezi Butamanya, the King of Buruuli Kingdom and Chairman of the Uganda Kings and Cultural Leaders Forum, successfully lobbied for 1,000 full-tuition scholarships in partnership with JAIN University in India. Alur Kingdom benefited from 50 slots.

For more information, contact: 0782734449

Alur king His Majesty Ubimu Phillip Rauni Ularker III waves to his subjects.

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at Zoomer Africa, your number one grassroot information hub for Africa news stories and updates.