37 hurt in Nyapea College bullying
Apr 23, 2004
At least 37 students at St. Aloysius College Nyapea, mostly in S.1 and S.2 suffered superficial burns during a hounding exercise on new school entrants
By Frank Mugabi
At least 37 students at St. Aloysius College Nyapea, mostly in S.1 and S.2 suffered superficial burns during a hounding exercise on new school entrants.
The torture, perpetuated by mostly S.2 and S.3 students took place on Friday night at mid-night on claims that they were initiating their new colleagues into the school.
The initiation involved burning the victims’_ cheeks, shoulders and back with candle flames and hot lamps.
Some victims had their bodies stamped with hot metal while others had their backs scratched with mathematical compasses.
Sixteen students who suffered injuries were taken to Nyapea Hospital for treatment.
According to an S.2A victim, the exercise was conducted in a planned way from dormitory to dormitory.
“They called all of us into the dormitory and ordered one at a time to climb up the bed. While up there they asked questions and as we answered they burnt us,†a victim narrated.
Some students said this was a culture within the school. The acting deputy headmaster, Patrick Angala, said the staff disciplinary committee had suspended 34 suspected perpetrators pending a final decision from the board of governors.
Okero James who has served as deputy headmaster for over 10 years denied claims that this has been a culture at the school.
“Nothing like this has ever happened here,†Okero said.
Police at Nyapea have taken up the case and recorded statements from the tortured and suspected torturers for possible court prosecution.
At least 37 students at St. Aloysius College Nyapea, mostly in S.1 and S.2 suffered superficial burns during a hounding exercise on new school entrants.
The torture, perpetuated by mostly S.2 and S.3 students took place on Friday night at mid-night on claims that they were initiating their new colleagues into the school.
The initiation involved burning the victims’_ cheeks, shoulders and back with candle flames and hot lamps.
Some victims had their bodies stamped with hot metal while others had their backs scratched with mathematical compasses.
Sixteen students who suffered injuries were taken to Nyapea Hospital for treatment.
According to an S.2A victim, the exercise was conducted in a planned way from dormitory to dormitory.
“They called all of us into the dormitory and ordered one at a time to climb up the bed. While up there they asked questions and as we answered they burnt us,†a victim narrated.
Some students said this was a culture within the school. The acting deputy headmaster, Patrick Angala, said the staff disciplinary committee had suspended 34 suspected perpetrators pending a final decision from the board of governors.
Okero James who has served as deputy headmaster for over 10 years denied claims that this has been a culture at the school.
“Nothing like this has ever happened here,†Okero said.
Police at Nyapea have taken up the case and recorded statements from the tortured and suspected torturers for possible court prosecution.