Phone battery explosion triggers deadly stampede at Oyam school

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One student has been confirmed dead and 29 others injured following a stampede triggered by a phone battery explosion during evening prep at Ngai Secondary School on April 25, 2025.

Brenda Aceng, a senior three student at the school, reported that students were in evening prep when some girls, who had tied phone batteries directly to chargers, caused a loud explosion at around 9:00 pm. Panic ensued as the girls scrambled for safety, with many falling at the doorway and others piling on top of them in the chaos.

"I stood behind and watched as girls jumped over their fallen colleagues," Aceng recounted.

Janani Okot, the headteacher of Ngai Secondary School, explained that the incident occurred while the students were reading in the computer laboratory. The loud explosion caused a stampede, and because the laboratory's entrance was narrow, several students fell and were trampled by others trying to flee.

Students watch through the windows as the computer laboratory block is being inspected following the stampede that claimed a student's life. (Photo by Hudson Apunyo)

Okot said he immediately rushed to the scene and organised transport to take the injured students to Ngai Health Centre III, Anyeke Health Centre IV, and Pope John Hospital, Aber. While some students were treated and discharged, sadly, one student died from her injuries.

“We suspect that a student had connected a charger directly into a socket, which may have caused the explosion," Okot said.

In total, 30 students sustained injuries: 23 were taken to Anyeke Health Centre IV, six to Ngai Health Centre III, and one critical case was transferred to Pope John Hospital Aber.

"The only unfortunate thing is that one young girl, Immaculate Ayo, a Senior One White student from Ngai sub-county, was the first to fall, and a pile of students collapsed onto her. She lost consciousness and never recovered," Okot said.

He described Ayo as a humble, quiet, and exceptionally bright student, expressing sorrow at the loss of such a promising young girl.


Sam Openy, the district inspector of schools, confirmed that the incident was caused by a rudimentary phone battery charging arrangement by a student who had likely returned with the phone after the Easter holidays.

"Tragically, we lost one girl, Immaculate Ayo, who was critically injured as a result of the stampede," Openy said.

Ngai Secondary School, which previously had low enrolment, had recently seen an increase in student numbers after new buildings were constructed. Openy commended the school's administration for maintaining good discipline, noting that the leadership was generally strict.

Oyam district police commander (DPC) Job Mutegeki described the incident as "very unfortunate," affirming that it arose from unauthorised phone charging activities by students.

“The explosion caught students by surprise. They fled the hall in panic, trampling over the deceased. By the time she was rescued and rushed to the hospital, she had passed away," Mutegeki said.

He urged school administrators to enforce the ban on mobile phones in schools strictly. He warned parents that similar dangers could occur at home when phone batteries are carelessly charged using makeshift connections.

Jimmy Anywar Dollo, the LC3 chairperson of Ngai sub-county, said a meeting with district leaders resolved that the school would cover funeral expenses as investigations continue to establish the full circumstances of the incident.