By Mike Rwothomio

Preparations are intensifying for a major anniversary celebration at Uringi Secondary School in Nebbi District, scheduled for Saturday, 10 September 2026.

The event will mark the institution’s 58 years of existence and bring together alumni, parents, teachers, community members and other education stakeholders to reflect on the school’s enduring contribution to secondary education in the region.

Uringi Secondary School ranks among the few secondary institutions in greater Nebbi with more than five decades of continuous operation. It joins historical peers such as St. Aloysius College Nyapea (the oldest), Angal Secondary School and Warr Girls Secondary School.

Many alumni recall formative experiences near the Nyibola stream, along the international boundary, where successive cohorts developed values of discipline and responsible living under the guidance of principled staff over the years.

According to the organizers, the celebration returns after an eight-year interval since the “Uringi at 50” event. It aims to reunite the student body with the school administration.

Padyere County Member of Parliament Hon. Isaac Otimgiu has been confirmed as chief guest.

Elly Aswa, Chairperson of the Central Organising Committee, stated that proceedings will begin with a pre-event campfire featuring interactions between alumni, current students and teachers.

“We also have a plan to go and inspect the graveyard of the school founder Mr. Uringi and also how we can renovate it, but that one will take place after the Uringi Day,” Aswa noted.

Situated on Anguruma Hill in Jupangira Sub-County, the school occupies expansive grounds with university campus-like infrastructure.

The elevated location provides a conducive environment and moderate climatic conditions that support both academic achievement and co-curricular activities.

Aswa described the forthcoming occasion as a mega reunification, adding that Activities will include prayers, speeches, social interaction and entertainment, offering the school community opportunities to reconnect and reinforce institutional bonds.

The anniversary of the school, founded in 1968, will facilitate the intergenerational transmission of traditions, academic achievements and historical experiences.

Over the years, Uringi Secondary School has distinguished itself through strong academic performance, particularly in Advanced Level examinations, often outperforming other institutions in Nebbi District.

Organisers indicate that the anniversary will also inaugurate annual celebrations thereafter, that will serve as a platform for alumni and stakeholders to support institutional development, including the upgrading of learning facilities and the creation of an enhanced environment for academic excellence.

An alumnus from Paidha Town Council named Innocent, who produces documentaries, expressed appreciation for the organisers and sampled the school anthem, which begins “God bless Uringi Our school.”

He described it as one of the finest school anthems he has encountered. “I last visited Uringi in 2012. I need to be part of the event such that I can sing our school anthem once again; it is the best,” Innocent said, adding that he intends to produce a documentary about the institution he cherishes.

Uringi Secondary School is a mixed institution offering both Ordinary and Advanced Level programmes.

The school’s distinctive uniforms, sky blue and green for Advanced Level learners and white and dark blue for boys, remain iconic markers for the thousands of students who have passed through the “hilltop campus”, so named by learners for its layout, structures, landscape and the smart appearance of the student body.

Founded in 1968 by the late Hon. Uringi S.W., then State Minister of Health in the first Obote government, the school received strong community support from Goli Jupangira residents, who provided land and constructed initial classrooms. It began operations at the site of the present-day Women’s Vocational Training Centre before relocating to Anguruma Hill.

Successive headteachers have included Rev. Joram Okoku, Mr. Gayo B.K. Kerunen and Mr. Opio Okerson, the longest-serving.

The institution has produced graduates who have pursued careers in education, local and central government, the clergy, law, journalism, medicine, academia and other professions.

Notable alumni include Professor Openjuru L. George, Vice Chancellor of Gulu University; Dr. Joseph Rwothomio, Acting Head of the Department of Educational Planning and Management at Kyambogo University; and the Bishop of Nebbi Anglican Diocese, Rt. Rev. Pons Ozelle Awinju.

According to the organizers, the anniversary is expected to function not only as a commemoration of institutional history but also as an opportunity for former students and well-wishers to contribute ideas, resources and mentorship toward the school’s future development.

In its transition toward a modern learning hub, the school introduced Information and Communication Technology relatively early, acquiring computers in 2010 and thereby ranking among the government-aided secondary schools in Nebbi District that expanded access to digital learning resources.

Alumni have further supported infrastructural improvements, including the construction and development of the school kitchen.

The celebration will enable alumni to reflect on their educational experiences, preserve the institution’s history, and reconnect with its founding body, the Church of Uganda, as well as cultural and community leaders, According to the organizer.Dormitory for BoysClassroomsAdministration block at Uringi secondary school

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