Lango College closed, 60 students arrested
Students stand outside the fence after being sent home following a strike at Lango College, Lira Town, on Wednesday. PHOTO BY BILL OKETCH
Lira- The district security committee has temporarily closed Lango College following Wednesday afternoon violent strike which resulted into a massive destruction of school property.
“I have closed the college,” the head of the district security committee, Mr Emmanuel Mwaka Lutukumoi, also the Resident District Commissioner, said on Wednesday.
“We closed Lango College after violent strike. Several students arrested and some teachers called to police.”
The students reportedly vandalised teachers’ vehicles, including the school bus, and destroyed the head teacher’s apartment. The students claimed the protest sought to gain reliable food schemes, and adequate schooling infrastructure.
A total of 62 students were arrested in the aftermath and two teachers summoned to record statements at Lira Central Police Station.
It all started on Tuesday night when students reportedly rioted, burnt a pick-up truck belonging to the school and destroyed the school bus.
It is also alleged that they broke the kitchen window panes and attacked the home of the head teacher, Mr Fred Okello, who is currently out of the country.
They were protesting what they say is ‘bad’ food. On Wednesday morning, Mr Lutukumoi led police in an operation at the school to arrest the ringleaders.
Wrong action
“If the students were dissatisfied with the quality of food they are being fed, it was not proper to turn their anger to the school property since these belong to government,” he said.
The RDC blamed the high level of indiscipline among students on the district education department, which he said is incompetent.
By press time, Lango College administrators were holding a meeting to assess the damage. However, the deputy head teacher, Ms Florence Adupa, was uncertain when the school would be reopen.
