Over 400 students of St Mary’s College Lacor in Lamogi Sub County in Amuru district have been ordered to pay a total of 98.1 Million Shillings for destroying school property during a violent strike.
Recently, 450 students of Sir Samuel Baker School in Gulu district who were sent home were fined 38.5 Million Shillings over a violent school strike that led to destruction of school property.
On early hours of July 2, 2017 between 1- 2AM, students who are on the boarding section at St Marys College Lacor went on rampage breaking windows glasses of buildings in the school. The damage went on until anti-riot police arrived at the school.
By the time the police arrived, three desktop computers, doors, windows, laboratory equipment, school documents, textbooks and the school fence had been destroyed.
The students were reportedly angered after one of the teachers conducted an impromptu roll call which found the majority of the students for a night disco at a nearby trading centre.
In a recent emergency meeting held at the school in the presence of the parents, the St Marys College Lacor school board of governors resolved that each of the students pay 132,000 shillings as fine for the damage caused during the strike.
Denis Rom, a member of board of governors says after an assessment on the damage by the students management resolved to fine each of the students 132,000 shillings.
The money will go towards the repairing the damage caused by the students, Rom said.
At least 18 students including four girls were arrested following the violent. The students were late released on police bond from Awere Police Post, also in Amuru District.
According to Michael Labeja, the Headteacher of the school, students with fees balances for term II are also required to pay it on top of the fine before they report back to school. In a letter dated July 20, 2017, Labeja asked parents to pay the money at Post Bank Gulu Branch before their children report to school.
