More than 200 senior two and senior three students at St. Joseph’s College Ombaci have been suspended and sent home following a violent strike that erupted at the school on Sunday.
The decision was made on Monday after a crisis meeting involving the school’s administration, the board of governors, and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA).
According to Arua city police, the unrest was sparked by a dispute in the dining hall. The police public relations officer for West Nile, Jimmy Anguyo, said the incident began when a senior two student, Mark Marjam, who is of Sudanese nationality, jumped the queue during supper.
The head prefect (HP), Daniel Jura, a senior five student, intervened and advised Marjam to follow the queue, leading to a scuffle. During the altercation, Jura slapped Marjam, which angered many of the senior two and senior three students.
In a fit of rage, the students went on a rampage, damaging the glass windows and doors of three dormitories and demolishing a 10-meter section of the school’s perimeter wall. Police have since been deployed to the school to prevent further destruction as investigations get underway.
A case of malicious damage has been registered by the head teacher, Charles Ondoga, but no arrests have been made yet, according to Anguyo. Police retrieved CCTV footage from the school and are taking statements from witnesses to identify the culprits.
The Old Boys of St. Joseph’s College Ombaci have also condemned the incident on their media platforms and have formed a team to support the school during the investigation. This is not the first time the school has experienced such an incident; a similar violent strike occurred last year, also resulting in extensive damage.