Four students arrested over malicious damage of property

ARUA, UGANDA: Four students of Okufura Secondary school and Nile High Odia Secondary school in Arua district are in police custody for malicious damage of property.

The students were picked up in connection to an inter-school fight between the two neighbouring schools that happened on Saturday night and Sunday morning, in which school properties were vandalized and over six students injured.

According to police, the fight was sparked on Saturday shortly after the declaration of results for the just concluded Arua district post-primary athletics championships held at Ajono primary school grounds in Vurra sub-county, which Okufura secondary school was declared the overall winner.

Josephine Angucia, the West Nile Region police spokesperson says that the victory of Okufura SS did not go well with the students of Nile High Odia who allegedly waylaid the athletes as they returned from the games.

She says the students also vandalized sign posts and window panes at the two institutions during revenge attacks.

John Agotre, the deputy head teacher of Nile High Odia confirmed the scuffle, saying the attack happened when the students were being served food on Saturday night. He however says they do not have any grudge with the administration of Okufura SS.

Meanwhile, Onesmus Lematia, the deputy head teacher of Okufura SS says two students in his school sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at school after they were discharged by Kuluva hospital.

This is not the first time students of rival schools in West Nile have been involved in clashes. In March this year, three secondary schools in Koboko Municipality were closed indefinitely following clashes among students. The affected schools were Koboko Public Secondary School, Koboko Parents Secondary School and Nyangilia Secondary School.