Iceme Girls S.S Introduces Bursary Scheme to improve on Enrollment

By JK Olot

Oyam, Uganda : Established on June 22, 1984, under a well-guided Catholic doctrine to promote education in Northern Uganda, Iceme Girls’ Boarding Senior Secondary School has continued to defy several odds along the path of educating girl children.

A section of staff at Iceme Girls’ SS

For over 40 years now, Iceme Girls’ SS in Oyam district has produced hundreds of well-educated mothers in the country amidst all the problems ranging from insurgencies to negative cultural values.

This year, the top management of the school resolved to introduce a special bursary scheme in a bid to reduce the increased rate of dropout among girl children from schools.

Sister Joyce Moria Dayo, the headteacher of Iceme Girls’ SS, said the bursary will benefit both academically brilliant learners and those with excellent talents in various sports disciplines.

“We have seen girls who are bright and talented in sports drop out of school due to a lack of resources; as school administrators, we want to support such students with education,” said Sr. Dayo.

Under the scheme, any academically brilliant and excellent female learner in any sport discipline will be offered a 50% bursary to study from senior one to senior six at the school.

Sr. Dayo, a renowned advocate for girl child education, appealed to the community of Lango to embrace the scheme and ensure that needy girls are supported.

“Who will replace or inherit leadership from our current female prominent leaders in this country in the future if we don’t support the education of our girl children today?” She asked.

Iceme Girls’ SS boasts excellent science laboratories and huge accommodation facilities that can accommodate over 800 boarding students.

BACKGROUND

From 1986–1987, as the school was starting to stabilize, cattle rustlers disorganized it, but thank God the 19 pioneers managed to sit their UCE exams in 1987.

In 1988, the situation worsened, and students had to take refuge at Lira School of Comprehensive Nursing, but later the school had to return to its mother site. In 1992, some students and staff were abducted from school by the LRA. These included the then chairperson and PTA executive, Mr. Abila Martin, Mr. Okello Paul, and Mr. Muga. While Mr. Abila Martin managed to escape after two days, other teachers stayed with the rebels for two weeks.

LRA ATTACKS:

In 1995, the LRA attacks intensified again, and the rebels overran the UPDF in Iceme, and some girls like Apio Lillian were abducted. In 1996, the situation became so bad that the school was relocated to Uganda Technical College, Lira.

On April 12, 1996, LRA again came for the girls, but fortunately, they found that they had left and fled to Teboke Catholic Parish, where the candidates of that year sat. Having found none at school, the rebels went and abducted the Aboke girls. Later on, in 1997, when the situation cooled down, students came back to the original mother school and stayed up until 2001.

In 2002, more insurgencies heightened once again, and the school was displaced to the Apac District in Apac Town. This is over 50 kilometers away from here. The whole situation got so bad that the school was abandoned, and hence all students and staff stayed in exile until 2006.

During that time, our beloved school became a hideout for rebels. Later on, the UPDF had to pitch their barracks towards the eastern part of the school so as to counterattack these LRA rebels, who had taken full control of it.

While all this took place, students, parents, and Christians prayed, and all concerned people of good will cried loudly to God to make the situation cool down, and indeed, the situation improved. That is why we are here, very peacefully settled.