S.Korean missionaries give scholarships to 36 Ugandans

By Rhyman Agaba & Rufina Atyeirwot

A delegation of Christian missionaries from South Korea has given scholarships to Ugandan students.

The move is aimed at enabling them to proceed to A'Level after they excelled in the 2024 national O'level examinations.

Union Vision Mission chairperson the Rev. Kim Sung Wan says the missionaries will sponsor the best 36 students.

During his tri-lingual sermon (voiced in Korean, English and Luganda), he quoted Isaiah 40:31: But they who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

“My first time to come to Uganda was in 2017, but I have been to Uganda 15 times. Do you know why I keep returning? Because you worship God and praise Him with so much passion,” he says.

Wan made these remarks on February 17, 2025, at Nakawa Union Vision Secondary School located in the Butabika area in Kampala city, during a scholarship handout ceremony.

A Korean delegation comprising over 20 dignitaries travelled to witness the handover ceremony.

Among the scholars that excelled with several As and Bs is Joseph Onyala who received a two-year fully-paid scholarship worth over four million shillings.

“I thank God for the opportunity that our mission came safely from South Korea. I also thank Dijang Church for building our school, many people are being raised at that school,” Onyala said.

Onyala, who has been a fully sponsored student since Senior One, commended the school’s administration for empowering the students and appreciated his teachers for their active role that ensured the students’ academic success.

Union Vision Mission (UVM) is a non-profit Christian organisation based in the Republic of South Korea.

In 2009 UVM started a mission in Uganda with the mission of preaching what it calls the true Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It also trains pastors and supports the construction of Evangelical churches and schools throughout East Africa.

Another beneficiary is Agnes Akello, whose school fees in the boarding section were also discounted by 80% (sh800,000) per term.

Some other students earned themselves half bursaries to the tune of shillings 500,000 such as Enock Amperize, Eve Birungi and Ronald Seruwu both received a fee discount of shillings 400,000, while Kenneth Omondo and Princess Ayebazibwe will both pay less by shillings 450,000 each term.

Other students including Agnes Hope Akello got fee discounts of sh250,000.

As a result of this tremendous performance at UCE, which earned the school a ninth position in the UCE rankings in the Kampala district, the teachers and administrators were also recognised and awarded undisclosed cash prizes.

Intervention reduces crime

The aspiring Member of Parliament for Nakawa East (MP) Moses Okwera Mugisha who is also the former Councillor LC5 Nakawa East, commended Rev Kim Sung for constructing the school which Okwera says has helped parents to pay school fees at a discount.

“I thank the school for employing professionals within our community, especially the teaching staff which has led to reduced crime in the areas of Mutungo, Butabika and Luzira areas,” Okwera noted.

According to Okwera, the community has tremendously developed because of this school. He appreciated the headteacher, teachers plus students for their good performance in UCE 2024.

The Korean delegation, which was ushered in by a school band, also opened a chapel on the school premises.

The student choir also performed a Korean worship song that displayed their knowledge of the Asian Language as the South Korean missionaries sang along to every lyric.

In another session, a youthful Korean team displayed Tae-Kwondo a form of Martial arts that excited the crowd comprising of students and community members.