Gangs Takeover IUIU Primary School in Mbale

IUIU primary school in Mbale municipality has turned into a hideout for criminal gangs who are terrorizing residents of Bujoroto and Wagagai cells in Northern Division.

The Islamic Founded School located a few meters off the Mbale-Soroti Highway lies beneath a valley surrounded by manmade forests and a swamp. Besides, it has a lot of access routes, used by trespassers in the absence of a perimeter wall. The routes in the compound lead to neighbouring villages of Nansu, Nkoma trading centre, Bujoroto and Wagagai.

The school’s fringes are covered in deflated sachets of various types of alcoholic drinks, used condoms and sometimes, women’s lingerie. According to school authorities, gangs take over the school premises from as early as 5 p.m., threatening learners and their teachers with rape if they do not vacate the buildings.

"Your time is over,” one of the teachers recounts how a man confronted her while in class and asked her to send off the pupils.

Headteacher Aisa Mutonyi says the gangs consist of boys aged between 18 and 25, most of them from the neighbouring areas of Namanyonyi, Namakwekwe, Nkoma and Kiteso in Industrial Division. She says that the gangsters have vandalized school properties, leaving it in dire need of furniture and equipment. Some of the stolen school items include solar panels, water tanks, windows and doors.

Yahaya Kiti, the LC II chairperson Nkoma ward says that a number of residents, the majority of them women, have fallen victim to the gang’s antics over the past three weeks. She says at least five women had reported rape, more than 10 have reported cases of theft of mobile phones and handbags, while one boy was hacked to near-death.

Sophie Mwanja, the Deputy Head Teacher of IUIU primary School says that the school has been taken over by gangs who use the classrooms as hideouts and havens for sharing their loot. Mwanja adds that the school environment is no longer conducive for learners and was increasingly becoming a threat to learners, teachers and the community.

Mutonyi says they have written to the municipal authorities to secure the school but haven’t been helped. Instead, municipal authorities referred them to Islamic University in Uganda which they are told is responsible for the affairs of the school.

“The officials are aware of these things, the education officer is aware, the inspector and the school management committee is aware but when we write to them they refer as to IUIU saying that they should handle everything.”      

Elgon Region Police Commander Abraham Betongyeza said that police is planning a meeting with the DPC and OC police stations surrounding the school to devise means of restoring sanity in the area.