Yumbe, Uganda: Police in Yumbe District are investigating a case of student unrest after male students at Roomier Seed Secondary School vandalised school property in a late-night incident linked to a water shortage.
The incident occurred on Monday evening, March 30, 2026, at the school located in Imvemvea Village, Lori Sub-County.
According to North West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson SP Collins Asea, the unrest began when male students left the school at around 8:00 pm to fetch water due to an acute shortage.
Upon returning, the students—while singing—began smashing doors and window panes, causing significant damage to school property. “They left to fetch water due to scarcity, and on return, they vandalised school property,” Asea said.
Police further revealed that the students moved toward the female dormitory section and allegedly attempted to force female students to join the unrest.
Teachers quickly secured key facilities, including computer and science laboratories, before alerting the headteacher, Adinan Sarah, who contacted police.
Officers from Lori Police Station, supported by reinforcements from Yumbe Central Police Station led by the District Police Commander, responded swiftly and contained the situation.
Police reported that no male boarding students were found on the premises during the operation, while only 80 of the 100 registered female boarders were present.
A case of malicious damage to property has been registered under CRB:145/2026, and investigations are ongoing.
Pattern of unrest in West Nile schools
The incident adds to growing concerns over student unrest across the West Nile sub-region.
In 2025 and early 2026, several schools in Yumbe, Zombo, Arua, and Obongi have experienced strikes marked by vandalism, protests, and temporary closures.
One of the most notable incidents involved over 300 students at St. Aloysius College Nyapea, who protested issues including poor feeding, infrastructure challenges, alleged mismanagement, and teacher transfers.
Other affected schools include Metu Secondary School and Vurra Secondary School, where students raised concerns over strict academic routines and welfare conditions.
Education stakeholders attribute the recurring unrest to a combination of factors, including poor feeding, water shortages, inadequate infrastructure, perceived maladministration, and peer influence.
In 2022 alone, the region recorded at least 32 school strikes in a single month—the highest ever documented at the time.
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