100 Nkoma students expelled, four arrested
MBALE- 100 students of Nkoma Secondary School in Mbale Municipality have been expelled after their alleged involvement in the planning and execution of a violent strike at the school last week.
On top of being expelled, four other students, believed to be the ring leaders have been arrested.
During the strike on Thursday, the students vandalised school property. The striking students were reportedly protesting what they termed “religious discrimination.”
The students alleged that the school administrators at the Muslim-founded school employ discriminatory practices against Christian students.
The school head teacher, Mr Yakubu Mwesigwa, on Saturday, refuted the allegation but confirmed that they have expelled 100 students over indiscipline.
“We have resolved that the students who were involved in that strike, which left the school property damaged, be expelled to bring sanity and discipline in the school,” Mr Mwesigwa, said.
Mr Mwesigwa said the strike was engineered by the head prefect only identified as Martin, a Senior Six student.
“We cannot continue keeping criminals at school. Let them leave the school,” he said, adding that some of the implicated students are prostitutes.
The expulsion of the students comes after Elgon Region Police Commander, Mr Francis Chemusto ordered the administration to expel students who orchestrated the strike.
Mr Chemusto, said the affected students had turned into thugs.
“If we do that, we shall have peace at this school and as police, we will arrest all students implicated and some teachers who reportedly incited violence,” Mr Chemusto said during a security meeting at the school, shortly after the strike.
Mr Chemusto said the school has a bad record of strikes since time immemorial.
“Students at this school are known for criminality but we are going to deal with them,” he said.
Mr Chemusto, however, attributed the persisted strikes at the school on poor administration.
Nkoma S.S, is one of the traditional schools in Mbale, supported by the government.
It has about 7,000 students.
Early this month, Police arrested students of the school who were reportedly found in possession of dangerous weapons and narcotic drugs.
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