Pallisa, Uganda: John Paul Secondary School Chelekura has emerged the best-performing school in Pallisa District in the 2025 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations, cementing its growing academic reputation nearly two decades after its founding.
Established in 2007 under the Catholic Church foundation, the school has steadily risen through the academic ranks. The latest results place it at the top of district performance charts following the national release of the 2025 UCE results by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB).
Headteacher Mr. Bwayo Moses expressed “unexplainable joy” at the school’s achievement, noting that the institution has recorded continuous improvement with every successive release of national examination results.
“I would do myself, the teaching and non-teaching staff, the Board of Governors and PTA a disservice if I don’t recognize the parents and guardians who are the source of our success. The school is entirely dependent on them,” Bwayo said.
According to Director of Studies Mr. Wandera Ivan, the school registered 171 candidates for the 2025 UCE examinations and delivered outstanding performance across all subjects.
Of the total candidates:
43 students scored Grade A distinctions
442 obtained Grade Bs
949 achieved Grade Cs
110 attained Grade Ds
Only one candidate registered a Grade E
Wandera attributed the results to teamwork, strong administration support and consistent academic facilitation, including provision of teaching materials, science laboratory chemicals, fieldwork support and structured internal academic competition.
Deputy Headteacher Mr. Mbulakyalo Geoffrey emphasized the importance of discipline and structured guidance, particularly for adolescent learners.
“We ensured learners had limited idle time except for sports and recess from 4pm to 6pm. After that, they returned to class for evening preparations before adequate rest,” he explained.
Parents and students also credited the school’s Catholic values for shaping both academic excellence and moral grounding.
Mr. Takeyi William, whose son Innocent Weresya scored five As and four Bs, said he had no regrets transferring his son from Bugishu to Pallisa.
“As others think of taking their children across the Nile to traditional schools, I followed Bwayo’s guidance and brought my son to John Paul SS Chelekura,” he said.
Weresya himself attributed his success to both academic mentorship and spiritual guidance from the school’s priests.
“The fatherly guidance of Rev. Fr. Chrisostom Oduch and Rev. Fr. Rogers Whekona shaped me. When I become a medical officer, I will serve the people of God well,” Weresya said.
Local leaders praised the institution for elevating Chelekura Sub-county’s academic standing.
LCIII Chairperson John Bosco Okolong commended the Archdiocese of Tororo for investing in education in the area.
“The initiative has not only created jobs and markets for produce but has also inspired our children to study harder,” Okolong noted.
LCV-elect Ben Okiria urged other schools in Pallisa to emulate the model.
“I encourage inter-school interactions so that experiences can be shared for the benefit of learners across the district,” he said.
With this performance, John Paul SS Chelekura strengthens its position as a leading academic institution in eastern Uganda, demonstrating how faith-based education, structured discipline and collaborative leadership can deliver sustained academic excellence.
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