Ntare On Strike, Battles Anti-Riot Police

By Allan Turyaguma and Grace Matsiko ANTI-Riot Police in Mbarara yesterday fought running battles with Ntare School striking students demanding reforms in the school administration. The sit-down strike, which began early morning, turned rowdy when the Police arrived. The students pelted and injured municipal education officer Charles Turyahikayo, who tried to address them. “This was a peaceful demonstration aimed at solving our internal problem and there was no need to call in the Police,” a student leader told The New Vision. After the intervention of members of the Board of Governors, the students calmed down but they shouted at the headmaster, Stephen Kamuhanda, when he attempted to address them. “We want Fagil Mandy or the IGG to address us but not the headmaster,” they yelled. Sources at Ntare said the crisis was sparked off by the decision of the school administration to expel Abraham Asiimwe, a form four student, for allegedly abusing a teacher. “The school administration has become too harsh and they prescribe the heaviest of punishments even for very minor offences,” the source said. The students’ memorandum to the administrators said they were paying a lot of money, but were overburdened by school dues and that nothing was being done to improve their welfare. Ends