Students at Friends School Mbale have been sent home indefinitely following a violent rampage on Sunday night, sparked by a decision to deny them the chance to watch the Spanish La Liga final day matches.
According to reports, the unrest left at least 11 students injured and caused significant destruction to school property.
Images obtained by FMFIX Hub reveal the aftermath of the chaos, including shattered glass windows, vandalised classrooms, offices, and food stores. Torn books and scattered debris painted a grim picture of the mayhem that unfolded.
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Notably, the deputy principal’s office bore the brunt of the destruction, with sources indicating that the administrator may have been directly involved in the decision to block access to the football match broadcasts—an act that allegedly triggered the fury of the students.
While the school has yet to release an official statement, area Member of Parliament (MP) Clement Sloya condemned the incident in strong terms, confirming that 11 students were injured in the unrest.
“I wish to condemn in the strongest terms possible the recent riot at Mbale Boys High School, which resulted in chaos, destruction, and injuries,” said the Sabatia MP.
Sloya emphasized the importance of discipline and respect within learning institutions, urging stakeholders to ensure that schools remain safe spaces for education and personal development.
“Such acts of indiscipline have no place in our learning institutions and must be denounced by all stakeholders in the education sector. Schools are meant to be safe spaces for learning, growth, and character development, not grounds for lawlessness and unrest.”
He further assured the public that a thorough and independent investigation would be conducted to uncover the root causes of the disturbance, promising that those found culpable would face appropriate disciplinary action.
“While disciplinary measures will be taken, we must also be open to understanding any legitimate concerns that may have fueled this unfortunate event.”
The MP praised the quick and coordinated response by police officers from Kilingili, Chavakali, and Mbale police stations, crediting their swift action for preventing further escalation.
The injured students were taken to Vihiga County Referral Hospital, where they received treatment under the MP’s facilitation. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported.
At the time of publication, school authorities had not issued a formal statement regarding the strike or clarified the events leading up to the riot.
The incident coincided with La Liga’s final day, where Polish striker Robert Lewandowski netted twice as champions Barcelona sealed a 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao, completing a domestic treble. Barcelona ended the season four points ahead of archrivals Real Madrid, who finished second on 84 points.