Luzira inmates perform well in UCE

Luzira Prisons inmates celebrate after receiving their results. PHOTO BY Ephraim Kasozi 

In Summary

Success. All the inmates who sat for Uganda Certificate of Education examinations have qualified for Advanced Level education

Luzira Prisons inmates who sat for last year’s Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations have all qualified for Advanced Level education.

According to the Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb), which released the results last Friday, all the 38 candidates who sat for the examinations at Upper Prison Inmates Secondary School obtained Division One to Division Four.

Four candidates passed in Division One; nine in Division Two; 12 in Division Three while 13 passed in Division Four. All the candidates were male.

Mr Joram Hannington Lusonzi who is on remand since 2012 over aggravated defilement emerged best with Aggregate 20.
The jubilant Lusonzi, 25, who had dropped out of school in 2008 at Primary Seven, said he wants to join Advanced Level and pursue his dream of becoming a lawyer in future.

Others who got first grade are convicts Daniel Ziraba and Warren Butaragaza as well as Philips Ocaigui who is still undergoing trial before court.

According to the records, four of the candidates Vincent Monday, Ronald Odongo, Robert Ojara and Omar Ozelle are condemned prisoners while Martin Chemonges, who scored Aggregate 40, died soon after sitting for the exams.

Mr Dennis Mujuni, the headteacher of the school, described the performance as excellent despite the challenges of lack of facilitation and adequate study materials.

“This is an excellent performance because candidates of last year were very bright compared to the previous year. They were much focused and exhibited teamwork. It was a well-organised class,” narrated Mr Mujuni, a pioneer teacher at the school.

He attributed the successful performance to the conducive environment by the prison authorities; “In this place you have a lot of time to think about three things (past, present and future) and we encourage each other to transform.”

The officer in charge of Upper Prison, Mr Wilson Magomu, said: “This is exciting and it encourages others to join because we take education as a crucial matter in our rehabilitation process. With this, we provide the little and also work with organisations that support us.”

“We believe that when people come to prison, they should use their time because they have all it takes to study and transform their lives,” said Mr Magomu, adding that that studying while in prison is challenged by lack of facilitation, security measures in place, no reading at night and stress on the side of learners.

ekasozi@ug.nationmedia.com