Koboko Town College has dismissed its students and closed indefinitely following a strike on Friday night.
The students are believed to have been opposing the suspension of one of their colleagues after he allegedly had an altercation with one of the police officers that were deployed to guard the school premises.
The school head teacher, Mr Tom Obeti Adraka, said the strike wasn’t justifiable, because everything was okay at school.
According to him, they had a disciplinary case against one of the students in senior after he allegedly had an altercation with one of the security personnel at the school.
“It so happened that because of the fluid security situation in West Nile due to the rampant strikes, we decided to engage two police officers to reinforce the local security guards at the school but on Thursday one of the students decided to confront, abuse and insult one of the police officers while on duty that they don’t want them at the school,” he narrated.
“This matter was received in our office as a disciplinary issue. The deputy head teacher who chairs the disciplinary committee summoned the boy and a decision was taken to send him home to bring his parents so that the matter would be handled with the parents on Monday. However, he started inciting other students alleging that he had been dismissed,” he added.
During the night, the students went on a rampage and torched the food store, destroyed the boys’ toilet, perimeter fence, smashed classroom windows, computer lab and the staffroom.
According to Mr Obeti, this led to an emergency meeting and a decision was made to indefinitely close the school, so that they can get a better plan of action.
Obeti revealed that seven students were apprehended and detained as they were allegedly involved in vandalizing property last night and two women in the community were also arrested for allegedly keeping the property of the students.
This is the 11th strike that has taken place in 11th schools across West Nile sub region in the past one month.
Ms Josephine Angucia, the police spokesperson for West Nile region said they were tipped off by a nearby resident and after calling the DPC, the police rushed to placate the situation. However, they were too late as the students had already destroyed the school property.
Related cases;
On Thursday at around 9pm, the students of Aripea SS in Terego district, rioted and caused destruction to property worth millions of shillings such as computers, window glasses, books among other items.
On Thursday at around 12am, Odravu students went on strike and burnt one of the grass thatched dormitories in the school due to the promotion and transfer of their deputy head teacher.
On same day, students of Yangani SS in Bidibidi refugee settlement also went on strike over alleged maladministration.