Kitebi Primary School remains closed over mass hysteria
Mar 30, 2011
KITEBI Primary School in Rubaga division has remained closed since Monday after 100 pupils tried to kill a teacher.
By Francis Kagolo
KITEBI Primary School in Rubaga division has remained closed since Monday after 100 pupils tried to kill a teacher.
The pupils at the Government-aided school reportedly became hysterical and acted as if they were possessed by evil spirits.
Sarah Namutebi, the deputy headmistress, said an unidentified pupil ran berserk during breakfast time. Shaking his body and shouting, the pupil claimed that Naome Wandera, a Primary One teacher had concealed charms in the compound which were disrupting the school programmes.
“He attracted other pupils’ attention and many of them became hysterical,†Namutebi narrated.
The situation went out of hand when goons from outside the school joined the pupils. Besides eating the food prepared for pupils, the goons incited the pupils to destroy school property and beat up Wandera.
By the time the Police arrived, the hysterical students had torn Wandera’s clothes.
“We rescued her (Wandera) from the mob and kept her at Kitebi Police Post. But we were forced to transfer her to Katwe Police Station after the pupils attacked our post in an effort to get her out,†said Charles Kyebakora, the Kitebi Police chief.
The resident district commissioner for Kampala, Alice Muwanguzi and officials from the education ministry ordered the school to close.
“We have given the pupils a one-week holiday. They will come back next Monday,†Muwanguzi said.
Kyebakora said Wandera denied allegations that she had planted charms at the school and hinted that she knew the person behind the witchcraft story.
This is not the first time the pupils are getting hysteria at the school. Sources at the school disclosed that several attacks have been occurring since the academic term began in January.
KITEBI Primary School in Rubaga division has remained closed since Monday after 100 pupils tried to kill a teacher.
The pupils at the Government-aided school reportedly became hysterical and acted as if they were possessed by evil spirits.
Sarah Namutebi, the deputy headmistress, said an unidentified pupil ran berserk during breakfast time. Shaking his body and shouting, the pupil claimed that Naome Wandera, a Primary One teacher had concealed charms in the compound which were disrupting the school programmes.
“He attracted other pupils’ attention and many of them became hysterical,†Namutebi narrated.
The situation went out of hand when goons from outside the school joined the pupils. Besides eating the food prepared for pupils, the goons incited the pupils to destroy school property and beat up Wandera.
By the time the Police arrived, the hysterical students had torn Wandera’s clothes.
“We rescued her (Wandera) from the mob and kept her at Kitebi Police Post. But we were forced to transfer her to Katwe Police Station after the pupils attacked our post in an effort to get her out,†said Charles Kyebakora, the Kitebi Police chief.
The resident district commissioner for Kampala, Alice Muwanguzi and officials from the education ministry ordered the school to close.
“We have given the pupils a one-week holiday. They will come back next Monday,†Muwanguzi said.
Kyebakora said Wandera denied allegations that she had planted charms at the school and hinted that she knew the person behind the witchcraft story.
This is not the first time the pupils are getting hysteria at the school. Sources at the school disclosed that several attacks have been occurring since the academic term began in January.