UACE 2025: Acholi Schools Register Progress in Arts and Sciences Despite Persistent Gaps
The Acholi sub-region has registered notable progress in the 2025 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) results, with a number of schools demonstrating strong performance in both Arts and Sciences. However, beneath this progress lies a deeper story of unequal learning conditions, resource gaps, and the ongoing transition to competency-based education.
The results were officially released on Friday, March 13, 2026, by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni, at State House, Nakasero. These results provide an important reflection of both academic achievement and the quality of teaching and learning across Uganda.
How the Acholi Rankings Were Derived
The ranking of schools in this analysis is based on Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) data, following the widely accepted New Vision methodology, where schools are ranked according to their average points per candidate.
This method considers:
- Overall school performance rather than individual excellence
- Consistency across candidates
- Minimum candidate thresholds to ensure fairness
The analysis focuses on the top 30 schools in Arts and top 30 in Sciences within the Acholi region.
Education Landscape of Acholi Region
The Acholi sub-region consists of the following districts:
Gulu City, Gulu District, Kitgum, Pader, Agago, Amuru, Lamwo, Omoro, and Nwoya.
The region has over 80 secondary schools, including both government and private institutions, with Gulu City acting as the central academic hub. Schools in Gulu tend to perform better due to relatively improved access to teachers, infrastructure, and learning resources compared to rural districts.
Top 30 Acholi Schools – ARTS (2025 UACE)
| Rank | School | Avg Points | Candidates |
| 1 | Ocer Campion Jesuit College | 12.9 | 38 |
| 2 | Restore Leadership HS Gulu | 12.3 | 120 |
| 3 | St. John Paul II College Gulu | 11.4 | 46 |
| 4 | Archbishop Flynn SS | 11.1 | 15 |
| 5 | Gulu Central HS | 10.0 | 144 |
| 6 | St. Mary’s College Lacor | 9.5 | 20 |
| 7 | Sacred Heart SS Gulu | 9.4 | 38 |
| 8 | Grace Memorial SS Gulu | 9.3 | 25 |
| 9 | Paicho SS Gulu | 9.0 | 18 |
| 10 | Y.Y Okot Girls’ Memorial School | 8.1 | 47 |
| 11 | Adilang SS | 8.1 | 39 |
| 12 | Gulu HS | 7.8 | 39 |
| 13 | St. Joseph’s College Layibi | 7.4 | 24 |
| 14 | Bishop Angelo Negri College | 7.3 | 22 |
| 15 | Kitgum Comprehensive College | 7.3 | 120 |
| 16 | Koro SS Gulu | 7.0 | 37 |
| 17 | Gulu SS | 6.9 | 206 |
| 18 | P.N. Nwotton HS Gulu | 6.9 | 28 |
| 19 | Keyo SS | 6.9 | 63 |
| 20 | Sir Samuel Baker School | 6.9 | 14 |
| 21 | Gulu Army SS | 6.8 | 59 |
| 22 | Rev. Jabuloni Issoke Memorial College | 6.7 | 35 |
| 23 | Layibi HS | 6.7 | 24 |
| 24 | St. Charles Lwanga College Kalongo | 6.6 | 21 |
| 25 | Kitgum HS | 6.6 | 66 |
| 26 | Aweere SS | 6.4 | 25 |
| 27 | Pope Paul VI SS Anaka | 6.4 | 67 |
| 28 | Charity College Gulu | 6.2 | 29 |
| 29 | Trinity College Gulu | 6.2 | 34 |
| 30 | Opit SS | 6.1 | 29 |
Arts Performance Analysis
In Arts, Ocer Campion Jesuit College emerged as the leading institution with an impressive 12.9 average points, followed closely by Restore Leadership High School Gulu (12.3). These schools have consistently demonstrated strong academic leadership, structured learning environments, and disciplined student engagement.
The dominance of Gulu-based schools in the top ranks highlights the urban advantage, where access to qualified teachers, learning materials, and mentorship opportunities is significantly higher.
However, a sharp performance drop is noticeable beyond the top 10 schools, where average points fall into the 6–8 range, indicating disparities in instructional quality and learner support across the region.
🧪 Top 30 Acholi Schools – SCIENCES (2025 UACE)
| Rank | School | Avg Points | Candidates |
| 1 | Restore Leadership HS Gulu | 13.3 | 44 |
| 2 | Ocer Campion Jesuit College | 13.0 | 58 |
| 3 | Sacred Heart SS Gulu | 9.5 | 17 |
| 4 | P.N. Nwotton HS Gulu | 9.2 | 21 |
| 5 | St. John Paul II College Gulu | 9.1 | 39 |
| 6 | Gulu Central HS | 9.1 | 29 |
| 7 | St. Joseph’s College Layibi | 8.6 | 54 |
| 8 | Archbishop Flynn SS | 8.6 | 27 |
| 9 | St. Mary’s College Lacor | 8.2 | 22 |
| 10 | Bishop Angelo Negri College | 7.8 | 30 |
| 11 | Lukung SS | 7.7 | 11 |
| 12 | Adilang SS | 7.5 | 11 |
| 13 | Lacor Seminary | 7.5 | 10 |
| 14 | Kitgum Matidi Seed School | 7.4 | 10 |
| 15 | Koro SS Gulu | 7.0 | 38 |
| 16 | Kitgum Comprehensive College | 7.0 | 72 |
| 17 | Palabek SS | 6.9 | 52 |
| 18 | Trinity College Gulu | 6.8 | 13 |
| 19 | Sir Samuel Baker School | 6.8 | 26 |
| 20 | Paicho SS Gulu | 6.8 | 10 |
| 21 | Y.Y Okot Girls’ Memorial School | 6.8 | 10 |
| 22 | Aweere SS | 6.6 | 11 |
| 23 | Gulu SS | 6.3 | 95 |
| 24 | Kitgum HS | 6.2 | 98 |
| 25 | Gulu HS | 6.1 | 19 |
| 26 | Omot Seed SS | 6.1 | 20 |
| 27 | Palabek Ogili SS | 6.0 | 19 |
| 28 | Rev. Jabuloni Issoke Memorial College | 5.6 | 25 |
| 29 | Pope Paul VI SS Anaka | 5.5 | 35 |
| 30 | Gulu Army SS | 5.3 | 28 |
🔬 Science Performance Analysis
In Sciences, Restore Leadership High School Gulu leads with 13.3 average points, followed closely by Ocer Campion Jesuit College (13.0), confirming their balanced excellence across disciplines.
Unlike Arts, Science performance shows a steeper decline after the top 5 schools, highlighting deeper structural challenges such as:
- Limited laboratory facilities
- Inadequate science equipment
- Reduced exposure to practical experiments
This reinforces the reality that science education is still constrained by infrastructure gaps, especially in rural areas.
⚖️ Key Observations Across Arts and Sciences
A cross-analysis of both categories reveals that:
- Top schools appear in both Arts and Sciences, indicating strong institutional systems
- Gulu dominates performance, reflecting better access to resources
- Performance disparity remains wide, especially between urban and rural schools
- Many schools still operate within the 6–7 point average range, suggesting moderate performance levels
Challenges Affecting Performance
Despite the progress, several challenges continue to affect education quality in Acholi:
- Inadequate laboratory infrastructure
- Limited ICT integration
- Teacher shortages in rural schools
- Overreliance on theoretical teaching methods
- Limited exposure to competency-based learning approaches
Way Forward for Acholi Region
To sustain and improve performance, stakeholders must prioritize:
- Teacher training and mentorship in CBC methodologies
- Investment in laboratories and digital infrastructure
- Expansion of ICT programs and KAWA Connect solutions
- Promotion of project-based learning through ICT Clubs
Conclusion
The Acholi region’s performance in the 2025 UACE results reflects a region that is steadily improving but still grappling with structural challenges.
While top schools continue to excel, the broader goal remains ensuring that all learners, regardless of location, receive quality, relevant, and practical education.
The journey ahead is not just about improving grades—but about building a generation of learners who can think, innovate, and transform their communities.
