By Daniel Edyegu

PARENTS and students of the Mbale school of clinical officers on Monday clashed with the principal, Felix Drachaku, over extra fees.

The drama started when parents brought the students on the school opening day only to realise that each student was supposed to pay sh42,000 for the property they allegedly damaged during a February demonstration.

The parents wondered why the school authorities did not notify them in advance. They tasked Drachaku to show them the property their children had damaged, but he failed.

â€œThey claim the students destroyed the school bus. What is that parked there unscathed?â€ asked John Cheweri, a parent from Kapchorwa, pointing at the bus.

Sarah Malinga, a widow from Kapchorwa, said she had sold her property to pay over sh2.6m for the admission of each of her two children.

Drachaku retreated to his office, declined to comment on the matter and referred journalists to the education ministry permanent secretary.

Following a February demonstration, the school was closed and a seven-member commission of inquiry, chaired by the Mbale deputy resident district commissioner, Emma Mitala, was instituted to probe the matter.

The committee recommended the transfer of the school deputy principal, George William Oluka, and a senior tutor, Lawrence Arach.
Five students, including the guild president, Fred Ssebata, were expelled and nine suspended for a year. A total of 42 students were recommended for caution.

The parents accused the probe team of incompetence and asked the ministry to make an independent inquiry.

However, Mitala explained that the committee conducted transparent investigations and the recommendations were based on findings.

â€œWe stretched the inquiry back to 2008. We reviewed documents and interviewed the school administration and students. Our findings indicated that most of the allegations against Drachaku were based on hearsay,â€ Mitala said.