Non-Candidates Fined UGX 50,000 Each for Staging Strike at Lango College

All non-candidates at Lango College School will pay a fine of 50,000 Shillings as a fine for engaging in a violent strike at the school.

The students went on a rampage last month protesting the arrest of a former student who had illegally gained access to the school compound. They destroyed a number of school properties including classroom windows, vehicles, and motorcycles that were in the school compound. They also looted five bags of sugar and cooking oil, as well as other items from the school canteen and store.

In the aftermath, the learners were all sent home and ordered to return after a week, accompanied by their parents. Now the school administration has announced that after costing the damaged properties, they concluded that each learner should pay a sum of 50,000 Shillings to cater for the cost of repairs and replacements.

Sammy Bob Okino, the school headteacher explained that initially, all the non- candidates had been asked to pay 102,000 Shillings but this was reduced to 50,000 Shillings. The rest of the money will be paid by the 82  ringleaders who were identified during the initial investigations.

Eng//Cue in; “We called the technical…

Cue out… trying to investigate.”//

Okino, however, hastens to add that the 200 students who were not at school on the night of the strike will be exempted from paying any kind of fine because they could not have participated in the strike. He adds that the ringleaders will be suspended.

Eng//Cue in; “We sent home…

Cue out… the same problem.”//

But Newton Chris Alele, a senior III student is disappointed that all students are being punished for the crime which some of them know nothing about, arguing that his parents are peasant farmers who will find it hard to raise money.

Eng//Cue in; “I was not involved…

Cue out… not happy at all.”//

However, parents are saying that the cost of damaged properties has been exaggerated by the school. Grace Okwir, a parent of the school believes that the damaged vehicles are old and thus the fine imposed on students has been exaggerated to fill the pockets of the administrators. She adds that the culprits should have been the ones paying the fine instead of all pupils.

Luo//Cue in; “Ikina otoki ame…

Cue out… pe oyomo yi onywal.”//

Janet Abala, another parent says the fine should have been very little because the properties damaged are not much.

Luo//Cue in; “Fine naca pe obedo…

Cue out… pyera abic twal.”//

Currently, Lango College has a total population of 960 students out of whom about 500 are expected to pay the fine.