Uganda: Comboni Students Strike, Force Administration to Close School

Warom Felix Okello

24 June 2011

Comboni Secondary School in Adjumani District was closed yesterday morning following a violent strike by students who torched a grass-thatched store, destroyed a school administration block and dormitories.

The students went on rampage on Wednesday night at 10pm, alleging that they were being served expired beans and that there was no teacher for computer lessons. But the North Western Regional Police Spokesperson, Ms Josephine Angucia, told Daily Monitor yesterday that the students were dissatisfied with a fine levied by the administrators on students who report late, asking them to come with a ream of duplicating papers.

“It is not right for teachers to dictate to students. They should harmonise relationship with the students in order to avert the strikes,” Ms Angucia said.

Strikes have in the past years become a routine way of expressing grievance.

Two weeks ago, 191 students of Maracha Secondary School were suspended over inciting violence in the school and 40 students of Moyo SS dragged their school administration to police over alleged starvation.

Adjumani District Police Commander Fredrick Ssegirinya said they agreed to close the school in order to pave way for further investigations. Mr Ssegirinya said there was need for the students to seek peaceful means of solving problems with the administrators. The early closure of the school term means the students will paralyse school activities like athletic competition and sitting for examinations.

The administration has decided that the students report back after one week with their parents. The school director, Mr Mark Dulu, said he was not ready to divulge any further information to the press.

The school administrators are now engaged in dialogue with security team and student representatives.

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