Old Boys launch Bernard Onyango excellence award
May 06, 2014
Six months after his passing on, Bernard Onyango, a renowned scholar, will have an academic excellence award named after him.
By Raymond Mujuni
Six months after his passing on, Bernard Onyango, a renowned scholar, will have an academic excellence award named after him.
The Bernard Onyango Academic Excellence Award (BOAE) is being pioneered by the Old boys of St. Peter’s College Tororo – a school where he left a legacy.
Onyango was the first student of the school to score the maximum aggregate of eight in eight subjects in 1948.
The courageous feat earned him the credit of naming a dormitory after him. Onyango also later returned to the school as a teacher.
In due reward, Onyango also pledged to give away a big prize to any student that beat his mark - which is now the inspiration for the awards due May 30th.
His other credentials include; academic registrar at the Uganda Martyrs’ University Nkozi and a pioneer academic registrar of the University of East Africa. He had previously also been on the boards of Bank of Uganda and Tororo Girls School.
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One of the first graduations at Makerere University that were presided over by President Yoweri Museveni. Prof Kirya( right) was VC and Onyango (centre) Academic Registrar. COURTESY PHOTO
He retired from civil service 10 years before passing on in 2013.
The academic excellence award will be an annual routine to recognize those who excel in academics and also provide scholarships for them.
Onapito Ekomoloit, the awards chairman said the award is in honour and memory of Bernard Onyango.
“The BOAE Awards and Lectures are not only intended to motivate and spur excellence at Onyango’s former school but also provide an opportunity for Ugandans to reflect on the issue of integrity in contemporary academic institutions,” Onapito said. The awards are to be launched on 30th May this year.
Prior to the awards, there will be a memorial lecture at Makerere University before the dinner at Silver Springs Hotel.
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