The warning follows a tragic incident at Ngai Senior Secondary School, where Immaculate Ayo, a Senior One student, died after a stampede triggered by a phone battery explosion.
Oyam District Security Committee has issued a stern warning to schools over the growing trend of students sneaking unauthorized gadgets, particularly mobile phones, onto school premises. The warning follows a tragic incident at Ngai Senior Secondary School, where Immaculate Ayo, a Senior One student, died after a stampede triggered by a phone battery explosion.
Thirty other students were injured during the incident, which occurred in a reading room where a phone battery, reportedly tied and plugged into a socket, exploded. Currently, Ugandan education policy prohibits students in both primary and secondary schools from carrying mobile phones. Being caught with such gadgets often results in automatic expulsion as part of strict disciplinary measures.
James Shilaku, the Resident District Commissioner of Oyam and chairperson of the District Security Committee, revealed that investigations show several schools in the district are failing to enforce these regulations.
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Benson Dila, the Oyam District LC5 Chairperson and member of the Security Committee, attributed the increasing cases of indiscipline and safety breaches to poor school management.
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Beatrice Auma Okello, the District Secretary for Education, acknowledged the persistent challenge of unauthorized items entering schools.
She blamed peer influence and advocated for ongoing student sensitization and surveillance measures, including the introduction of monitoring systems to curb mobile phone usage.
Simon Peter Okeng, Head Teacher of Acaba Secondary School and academic coordinator for the Oyam District Secondary Schools Association, supported the committee's recommendation.
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He also encouraged schools to allow the use of computers strictly for academic purposes rather than permitting mobile phones.
Martin Abila, a concerned parent, echoed the district's concerns, saying mobile phones increase students’ exposure to cyberbullying and online risks.
He urged school administrators to prioritize student safety by enforcing policies that limit or prohibit phone use within school environments.
Ambrose Okai
Freelancer