Police Detain Eleven Lango College Students Over Strike

Police Detain Eleven Lango College Students Over Strike

The Police have arrested 11 students in connection with the Sunday strike at Lango College in Lira district.

By press time, the students were still being held at Lira Central Police Station.

The students are said to have thrown stones onto the roofs of classrooms and dormitories, while chanting. "We need good hygiene. Give us a good toilet!"

The one-hour strike, which was quelled by the Police, left two pit-latrines, which the students claimed were in a bad state, destroyed.

The Lira district Police commander, Robert Ssemata, said the detained students are in Senior Four and Three.

"We arrived here on Sunday evening and took control of the situation. We withdrew on Tuesday morning," Ssemata said. He said the Police will prefer charges of inciting violence against the suspects.

A team of district officials led by Susan Akany, the resident district commissioner, yesterday visited the school and advised students against strikes.

"Strikes don't solve problems but instead destroy relationships, "Akany warned.

The head teacher, Alfred Okello, said the strike took them by surprise because the school has in place good problem solving mechanisms.

"All our 16 latrines are in good condition and I don't see any cause for alarm," he said.

The last strike in Lango College took place in 2007 and resulted in the indefinite suspension of 120 students suspected to have been ringleaders.