Mwiri re-opening hangs in the balance

By Vision Reporter 

THE fate of over 500 students of Busoga College Mwiri, who were suspended following a violent strike, is still unknown after the school’s re-opening was postponed at the eleventh hour on Friday due to conflicting messages from the stakeholders.

Acting on a recommendation of the strike probe committee, the board of governors meeting had resolved to have the school re-opened over the weekend. Students had been expected to report back in three phases, according to Richard Gulume, the Jinja resident district commissioner and chairman of the district security committee. 

Senior Six and Senior Four students had been scheduled to report to the school on June 14, S5 and S3 students on June 15, while students in S.2 and S.1 were due to return on Sunday 16. Lessons were expected to resume on June 17 as investigations into the matter continue.

However, press reports attributed to the assistant commissioner for secondary education, Francis Agula, said the ministry had not yet allowed the school to reopen.

Gulume told New Vision that messages were consequently sent to parents and guardians on Friday informing them of the postponement.

A meeting of the probe committee chaired by Busoga University vice-chancellor Prof. Christopher Bakwesegha and attended by members of the board of governors and district leaders was later held at the school to discuss the way forward.

Gulume on Saturday said the Friday meeting had not reached a conclusion on when the students would be allowed back, pending the input of the Bishop of Busoga diocese, Dr. Michael Kyomya. Busoga College Mwiri is a Church of Uganda-founded school.

Students were sent home on June 1, after they went on strike over poor feeding, a hike in school fees from and alleged poor administration.