By Golden Vicky Ayiro | Pader, Uganda

Eight students from Kworo High School in Pader District were detained at Pader Central Police Station on Monday, November 11, 2024, following an attempted strike. The unrest reportedly began after school authorities confiscated mobile phones from students.

The identities of the detained students at Pader CPS were not revealed by press time.

Head teacher Atim Beatrice confirmed the incident, stating that swift police intervention prevented the strike from escalating. “We acted promptly to avoid further disruption,” said Atim. “The police intervened in time, and the ring leaders were taken into custody.”

Despite this, tension persisted on campus. On Tuesday, students boycotted meals and littered food around the school compound as a form of protest. Atim condemned the students’ actions and called on other schools to avoid similar incidents. “Such behavior is unacceptable. I urge students across the district to express grievances through appropriate channels, not disruptive actions,” she added.

Angai Doreen, an officer from the Child and Family Protection Unit (CFPU) at Pader Central Police Station, verified the detentions and advised students to focus on their education. “This type of conduct is harmful, not only to the students but also to the entire school community,” she noted. “I encourage students to avoid such disruptions and concentrate on building a positive future for themselves.”

The attempted strike at Kworo High School comes shortly after another incident at Lagwai Seed Secondary School on November 9, where students reportedly protested due to alleged unprofessional behavior by certain teachers. Following that strike, the administration temporarily sent the school’s 725 students home for a week.

Education officials have expressed concern over the rising unrest in schools across Pader District and are working with school administrations to develop conflict resolution strategies.