Soroti bishop urges Teso parents, candidates to plan beyond exams
The Bishop of the Church of Uganda Diocese of Soroti, Kosea Odongo, made the call during a dedication service for candidates at Bethany Comprehensive Secondary School, a Church of Uganda-founded school in Soroti city, on October 5, 2026.
Candidates kneel in prayer as Bishop Kosea Odongo leads a dedication service ahead of the 2026 UNEB examinations at Bethany Comprehensive Secondary School. (Photo by Juliet Akello)
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Parents and Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) candidates in Teso have been urged to look beyond examination results and invest in education, life skills and productive activities that can shape the future of young people.
The Bishop of the Church of Uganda Diocese of Soroti, Kosea Odongo, made the call during a dedication service for candidates at Bethany Comprehensive Secondary School, a Church of Uganda-founded school in Soroti city, on October 5, 2026.
Odongo urged parents to take greater responsibility for their children’s education and wellbeing, saying the choices and support they provide today will influence their children’s future.
He challenged candidates preparing for the UNEB examinations to think beyond the immediate goal of completing school and consider what they want to become in the next 10 years.
The bishop also urged candidates to return home after their examinations and avoid idling in trading centres, instead using the post-examination period to engage in productive and developmental activities.
Bishop Kosea Odongo poses for a group photo with students, parents, and other stakeholders. (Photo by Juliet Akello)
Odongo also urged parents to be honest with their children about the challenges of life and emphasised the importance of education and hard work.
“There are no free things,” Bishop Odongo told the parents and candidates, while reminding them that God is the beginning.
The school’s director, Canon Martin Okiria Obore, encouraged the candidates to approach the examinations with confidence, describing them as a beacon of hope for their families and community.
Obore urged the candidates to embrace the slogan “No retreat, no surrender,” saying the UNEB examinations are an opportunity to open doors to their future.
Soroti LC5 chairperson Bob Owiny urged parents to continue supporting their children throughout their education and encouraged candidates to remain disciplined and focused as they prepare for the examinations.
Bethany Comprehensive Secondary School has 67 candidates registered for this year’s UNEB examinations.
The headteacher, Paul Opesen, told the candidates that they had completed a long academic journey and urged them to remain focused during the remaining days.
Opesen appealed to parents to continue sacrificing for their children’s education, saying teachers had provided the necessary knowledge and that candidates must now put in their own effort to achieve good results.
He told the candidates that their performance would reflect their commitment and urged them to maintain concentration, saying “success begins now.”
The diocesan education coordinator, Rev. Godfrey Obone, meanwhile, raised concerns about challenges affecting schools, including corruption, mismanagement and disagreements over Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) contributions.
Obone said challenges in paying teachers, coupled with a directive requiring parents’ agreement before PTA contributions are collected, could affect the operations of some schools.
The dedication service brought together Church, school, district and community leaders.