Strike: Mwiri students to pay for damages

By Charles Kakamwa                   

Students of Busoga College Mwiri who were sent home after a strike at the beginning of this month, will each pay sh67,500 as a contribution towards repair of property destroyed as a result.

The ministry of education in a communication released on Wednesday, signed by the assistant commissioner for secondary education Francis Agula on behalf of the ministry's permanent secretary, said this will be a prerequisite for the over 800 students' entry into the school.

"This money must be paid in the bank at branches ordinarily used by the parents. Entry into the school will only be upon production of a paid-in bank-slip to this effect," Agula stressed

According to the release, the school that was closed on June 1, this year, a day after the violent strike, will be re-opened on Saturday June 22, starting with senior one and senior two students.

Senior three and senior five will return on Sunday June 23 while S4 and S6 classes will report on Monday June 24.

"All returning students shall be accompanied by their parents or guardians. There will be a screening exercise of all students on arrival at school and thereafter a meeting of the parents and school administration," Agula said.

Officials from the ministry will meet members of the board of governors, PTA executive committee, the strike probe committee, teachers and support staff prior to the school opening, Agula pointed out.

Some of the property destroyed included window glasses in classroom blocks, dormitories and the deputy head teacher's house as well as electrical installations. The loss is estimated to cost millions of shillings.

Students who accused headmaster George Lule Wamala and his deputy Henry Mwondha for their (students') poor feeding, a hike in school fees from sh500,000 to sh750,000 and poor administration, demanded transfer of the duo.

Re-opening of the school that had been scheduled for Friday last week (June 14) as recommended by Jinja resident district commissioner, Richard Gulume and the strike probe committee chaired by Busoga university Vice Chancellor Prof. Christopher Bakwesegha, flopped after the ministry of education protested the move.