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Lira Diocese concluded its fourth annual Education Week with a call to learners, teachers and parents to work together in forming disciplined, responsible and faith-filled young people who can become a positive light in society.
By Flavia Oyuu, Communications Office, Lira Diocese
The Education Week, held under the theme “Catholic Schools Anchored in Christ, Share Your Light”, drawn from Matthew 5:14–16, climaxed on Friday, September 25, 2026, at the Uganda Martyrs Cathedral Ordination Ground in Lira City.
The week-long celebration began on Monday, September 21, with a radio talk show, bringing together Catholic-founded schools from across Lira City and the surrounding areas for a series of activities celebrating education, faith, talents and the Catholic identity of the schools.
The climax included a procession through Lira City centre led by a police brass band, followed by Holy Mass celebrated by the Bishop of Lira Diocese, Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok, and speeches from education leaders and representatives of the Uganda Catholic Episcopal Conference (UEC).
The celebration also featured the awarding of certificates and trophies to schools and learners who excelled in football, netball, volleyball, science fair and public speaking.
Bishop Wanok: Let your lives shine
In his homily, Bishop Wanok challenged children and young people to live out the Education Week theme by becoming a light to those around them through discipline, respect and good conduct.
He cautioned learners against behaviours that undermine their ability to become positive examples in society, including indiscipline, misuse of social media and disrespect for others.
The Bishop encouraged learners to respect their teachers, parents and elders, remain close to God and recognise God as the source of wisdom.
He also reminded teachers that their responsibility extends beyond classroom instruction, urging them to guide learners and help prepare them for responsible leadership and service.
While acknowledging the financial difficulties and delayed salaries faced by some teachers, Bishop Wanok encouraged them not to abandon their responsibility to nurture and educate learners, describing teaching as a calling from God.
He further called for stronger cooperation between parents and teachers, stressing that education begins at home and that parents should not leave the entire responsibility of raising and educating their children to schools.
Catholic education must form the whole person
The Lira Diocese Education Secretary, Fr. Moses Edyomu, described education as a shared responsibility involving schools, parents, communities, government and faith institutions.
Fr. Edyomu thanked teachers and school managers for their commitment to ensuring that the Education Week activities took place despite the challenges they faced.
He said teachers do more than prepare learners for examinations, noting that they also shape character, awaken curiosity, guide talents and offer hope to learners.
He urged learners to take their studies seriously, read widely, ask questions, use their talents responsibly and respect teachers, parents and fellow learners.
Fr. Edyomu also emphasised the role of the Church in forming the whole person.
He said education should develop the mind, heart, conscience and spirit, warning that knowledge without values can be misused, while knowledge combined with integrity, compassion, discipline and faith can become a force for good.
He called for continued collaboration among schools, parents, government and the Church to create learning environments where every child feels safe, respected and encouraged to grow.
UEC calls for skills, innovation and Catholic identity
The National Executive Secretary for Education at the Uganda Catholic Episcopal Conference, Rev. Fr. Ronald Reagan Okello, commended Lira Diocese for the progress it has made in strengthening the management of education in its Catholic schools.
Fr. Okello said Education Week provides an opportunity for Catholic schools to come together and celebrate their common heritage.
He encouraged the Diocese to consider incorporating more cultural elements into future Education Week celebrations, saying culture contributes to identity and can help provide learners with a more holistic education.
Addressing learners, Fr. Okello urged them to take the competency-based curriculum seriously by developing practical skills, values and innovations that can help them respond to the demands of the future.
He challenged learners to translate the skills gained at school into practical solutions and employment opportunities, pointing to innovations already developed by some Catholic school learners.
Fr. Okello also encouraged talented learners to develop their abilities rather than hiding them, highlighting scholarship opportunities available through Uganda Martyrs University for students who excel in areas including sports and exhibitions.
He further called for cooperation between government, foundation bodies and parents in addressing challenges affecting schools.
He argued that foundation bodies and parents have an important role to play in supporting education where existing resources are insufficient, while stressing the need for transparent and systematic approaches in addressing challenges within schools.
City education authorities commend Catholic schools
Representing the Lira City Education Department, Senior Education Officer Andrew Ogwang Oyang appreciated the contribution of Lira Diocese to education and the management of learning in Catholic-founded schools.
Ogwang said education should prepare learners not merely to remain within the institutions where they studied, but to acquire the knowledge, skills and values needed to serve their communities and humanity.
He noted the important role played by foundation bodies in school management, discipline, development programmes and teaching and learning.
He also called for stronger community participation in supporting schools, observing that community support for education appeared to be declining.
Ogwang commended the level of discipline in Catholic-founded schools within Lira City and recognised the Catholic Church’s contribution to nurturing talents and preparing young people to become responsible citizens.
He said activities such as those held during Education Week help learners develop skills and talents that can serve them beyond the classroom.
Rising education costs and learner welfare
The National Coordinator for the Catholic Schools Youth Ministry International at the UEC, Henry Otim, drew attention to the growing economic pressures affecting schools and families.
Otim said rising costs of learning materials, transport and food were making education increasingly difficult for many families and called for continued engagement among stakeholders on ways of supporting the provision of education.
He also highlighted learner dropout, citing health and poverty among factors contributing to children failing to complete primary education.
Otim introduced the Church’s EduHealth programme, an initiative aimed at strengthening the health support available to learners.
He explained that the programme provides an electronic medical form intended to give schools more reliable information about a learner’s health and enable schools, parents and health facilities to work together in responding to learners’ health needs.
According to Otim, the programme is intended not only to support individual learners but also to help schools and health providers identify health concerns and provide relevant information and interventions.
Education Week celebrates more than academic achievement
The fourth Education Week brought together learners, teachers, education officials, Church leaders and other stakeholders in a celebration that went beyond academic performance to include faith, discipline, culture, talent, health and practical skills.
Through competitions in sports, science and public speaking, learners were given opportunities to demonstrate abilities outside the traditional classroom setting, while the celebration provided a platform for Catholic-founded schools to come together as one educational community.
As the Diocese concluded the week, the message from the celebrations remained closely tied to its theme: that Catholic education should be rooted in Christ and should equip learners not only with knowledge, but also with the values and character needed to let their lives shine in their families, schools and communities.
The Education Week concluded with the presentation of certificates and trophies to outstanding participants in football, netball, volleyball, science fair and public speaking, recognising the talents and achievements displayed throughout the week’s activities.
End
