Police in Kisoro District have detained 28 students from Kisoro Saviour Secondary School following a violent strike that left school property destroyed and cash stolen.
According to Kigezi Region Police spokesperson Elly Maate, the incident occurred in the early hours of April 21, 2026, around 1:00 a.m., although tensions are said to have begun the previous evening at about 10:00 p.m.
A teacher on night duty reportedly found several students hiding in a dormitory during prep time and took them to the staffroom for disciplinary action. This reportedly angered the students, triggering unrest within the school.
“Reports indicate that the detained students began shouting, prompting teachers to lock them inside the staffroom while they tried to manage the rest of the school,” Maate said. “However, the situation worsened when other students began throwing stones at teachers, forcing staff members to flee for their safety.”
During the chaos, some students allegedly broke into the bursar’s office and stole approximately Shs3.7 million and school uniforms. Others are said to have raided the school canteen, taking about Shs1.8 million in cash, as well as food and drinks worth around Shs500,000.
The violence also resulted in extensive damage to school property, including broken windows, damaged doors, and destroyed desks and benches. Some students allegedly extended the vandalism to nearby gardens, cutting down banana plantations and consuming sugarcane valued at about Shs1.5 million.
School authorities alerted police as the situation escalated. Officers led by the District Police Commander responded and managed to restore order.
Maate said a joint meeting involving police, education officials, school administrators, parents, and student representatives was held on Tuesday. “Suspected ringleaders were identified and arrested, and the school has been temporarily closed to prevent further disturbances,” he said.
Police confirmed that investigations are ongoing as efforts continue to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
