Mentor Secondary School student wins national physics competition

20 September 2026, 2:36 pm

By Finellah Akullu Opio

A Senior Two student at Mentor Secondary School in Lira City has emerged victorious in a national physics competition organised by the Physics Society of Uganda.

Tina Hope Adongo clinched top honours in Category 2 during the awards ceremony held at Makerere University in Kampala, earning both gold and silver medals for her outstanding performance.

The Head of the Physics Department at Mentor Secondary School, Fred Olwol, explained that the academic competition began in Term One and was open to all A-level students.

He said the school initially entered 37 candidates, of whom 18 qualified for the second round held at Lira University.

According to Olwol, the school received official notification over the weekend inviting Adongo to Makerere University for the final awards ceremony, where she was declared the national champion in her category.

Expressing her joy, Adongo attributed her success to the support of her school administration, teachers and fellow students.

She encouraged other students across the Lango sub-region to embrace science subjects and participate in academic competitions to build confidence and excel at the national level.

Adongo, a resident of Ogwete Sub-county in Otuke District and daughter of Carlos Opio, pledged to maintain her academic momentum and represent her school in future national competitions.

Beyond science innovation, Mentor Secondary School consistently competes at a high level in national debates, spelling bees and academic quizzes across Uganda. The school’s structured preparation programmes, which begin as early as Senior One, build students’ confidence and analytical thinking, enabling them to excel when competing against students from across the country.