RESEARCH shows that students usually hide outlawed items in their suitcases, pillows, mattresses or smuggle them into school when they get chance to go back home.

A dormitory master in a Mukono boarding secondary school, says students have various tricks they use to conceal forbidden items. He says students go as far as cutting their mattresses and pillow cases to hide items.

“At night, they remove the waragi and take it while hiding under the blanket,” says the teacher, who preferred anonymity. Some students mix waragi in soft drinks like quencher. Others put waragi in mineral water bottles and stack the bottles in a box of mineral water. They beat the unsuspecting parents and teachers.

A student, who did not want to be named admitted that many of them hide forbidden items because they think barring some of the things is unrealistic.

“My school for example does not allow packed food, alcohol, cigarettes, cell phones, iron boxes and limits the number of clothes one should come with. I think it is unfair to limit me, especially the number of clothes I should carry,” says the student.

The student reveals he has had friends who have smuggled items like iron boxes and sachets of a drug called kuber to the dormitory. He notes that when they want to smuggle anything inside, they prefer reporting back to school late in the evening.

The ‘game’ is so complex that students sometimes connive with gate keepers, whom they pay little money, to allow them smuggle forbidden items into their dormitories. This happens especially in the evening hours in the absence of teachers.

Beat them at their own game

Carry out on-spot checks of children’s suitcases or bags