Pader selects 11 State House scholarship beneficiaries as RDC office apologises for anomalies

11 August 2026, 18:35

By Ekel Bonny Daniel

Pader District has selected 11 State House scholarship beneficiaries after a fresh exercise following concerns over irregularities and inadequate communication. The selection considered geographical representation, gender, vulnerability, academic performance and poverty, with beneficiaries pursuing Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in various professional fields.

Pader District has selected 11 students to benefit from the State House scholarship after a fresh selection exercise was conducted on Tuesday, following concerns over inadequate communication, unequal geographical representation and alleged irregularities in the initial process.

The fresh exercise follows an emergency meeting held on Monday, August 10, chaired by Pader District LCV Chairperson Alfred Akena, where district leaders ordered a restart of the selection process after key stakeholders, including education officials, councillors, parents and political leaders, said they had not been adequately involved.

The initial process also attracted concerns over the distribution of the 11 slots, with Aruu County MP Komakech Christopher questioning why only two of the first 11 nominees came from Aruu County, while nine came from Aruu North.

There were also allegations that some applicants had been asked to pay money to secure places on the scholarship list, although the allegations were not established during the meeting.

Following the concerns, Akena called all applicants, including those who had been left off the earlier lists and those who had failed to apply because they had not received information, to appear with supporting documents for a fresh selection.

Speaking after Tuesday’s exercise, Akena said the district had applied criteria based on geographical representation, gender balance, vulnerability, academic performance, poverty, courses pursued, disability and children of former abductees, where applicable.

The district divided Pader into five zones Awere, Pader, Pajule, Acholibur and Atanga and agreed to allocate two slots to each zone, with an additional slot going to a master’s student.

The selected beneficiaries are Aber Tracy, 21, from Latanya, who will pursue a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at Kampala International University; Ochola God’s Mercy, 21, from Acholibur Town Council, who will pursue a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management; Komagum Steward, 24, from Awere, who will pursue a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and was also considered under the disability category; and Moi Quinto, 24, from Puranga Town Council, who will pursue a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at Kampala International University.

Others are Lamwaka Oliver Oyo, 21, from Pader Town Council, who will pursue a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at Gulu University; Oyo Samuel, 24, from Ogom Sub-county, who will pursue a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at Gulu University; Kikoya Isaac, 18, from Angagura, who will pursue a Bachelor of Science in Education, Biological Sciences, at Gulu University; and Lakica Faith Princess, 21, from Atanga Town Council, who will pursue a Bachelor of Science in Food Bioscience and Agribusiness.

The list further includes Ogen Roth Simon Peter, 24, from Paiula, who will pursue a Bachelor of Pharmacy at Gulu University; Adong Brandi Nicole from Pajule, who will pursue a Bachelor of Pharmacy at Mbarara University of Science and Technology; and Otto Joseph Justine from Lapul, who will pursue a Master’s degree in Environmental Management at Kampala International University.

Akena said the fresh process was necessary because the initial selection had created confusion and public concern.

He said although many students demonstrated strong academic performance, the limited number of available scholarship slots meant that some deserving applicants could not be selected.

Pader Assistant RDC Boniface Pule welcomed the fresh process and apologised on behalf of the RDC’s office for the earlier anomalies, saying future government programmes should involve all relevant district stakeholders.

Meanwhile, District Inspector of Schools Olwoch Francis commended the transparency of the exercise and urged the beneficiaries to remain focused on their studies and use the opportunity to contribute to the development of Pader.

He encouraged them to advance their academic qualifications so they can acquire better opportunities, build successful careers and contribute meaningfully to the development of Pader District and Uganda.

LCV Female Councillor V for Pajule Town Council Akello Vivian called for unsuccessful applicants to be placed on a waiting list for future opportunities and urged the district council to review the zoning system.

Parent Odong Oba of Ogom Telela commended the district leadership for conducting the selection openly, saying the approach had demonstrated a new spirit of transparency in the district.

The final minutes and list of beneficiaries will be compiled and forwarded through the RDC’s office for submission to the relevant authorities in Kampala.