Police douse striking Fort Portal students with tear gas

The police in Fort Portal used tear gas to disperse rowdy students of Mpanga Senior Secondary School in Kabarole district who were protesting.

The students were protesting against a fee levied onto them to maintain the school bus.

Mpanga SSS acquired a school bus early this year after so many years of fundraising.

The students accuse the school administration of increasing the fees without discussing the matter with their parents first.

They also accuse the school head teacher George Ruyonga of failing to monitor the school's teaching.

"At the beginning of the year the school fees increased from sh57,000 to sh87,000 and we did not oppose it but now from nowhere the school administration has increased the school bus maintenance fee from sh20,000 to sh40,000 without making any consultations" said the rowdy students.

They argue that sh40,000 is too much money compared to the school's enrolment which now stands at over 2,000 students.

Mpanga is one of the government aided schools with the highest enrolment country wide.

Ruyonga the school head teacher said that the school administration resolved to increase the bus fees following a drop in school enrolment.

"When we were arranging to get the school bus last year the school enrolment was at 3,300 but there was a dramatic drop to 2,000 at the beginning of the year" Ruyonga said.

Ruyonga explained that with number of students currently in the school, the administration had no other option but to increase the bus fees so as to raise money to pay the monthly instalments for insurance.

An emergency meeting held at the school premises resolved to temporarily halt the school's academic program.

"We have agreed to put off the school teaching programme and only allow the candidate classes" Ruyonga said.