Pader selects 11 State House scholarship beneficiaries after fresh exercise

11 August 2026, 18:35

By Ekel Bonny Daniel

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

The fresh exercise followed an emergency meeting held on Monday, August 10, chaired by Pader District LCV Chairperson Alfred Akena. 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 on all applicants, including those who had been left off the earlier lists and those who had failed to apply because they had not received the 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 whether applicants were 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 reserved for 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 raised 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 Resident District Commissioner Boniface Pule welcomed the fresh process and apologised on behalf of the RDC’s office for the earlier anomalies. He said 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 pursue higher academic qualifications to access 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 exercise openly, saying the approach 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 to the relevant authorities in Kampala.