RDC Mr Ayikobua has Closed Maracha SS Indefinitely Over Bloody Fight Between Students of Otravu SS and Maracha SS that Left Two Police Officers with Fractures.

   👆👆 RDC Festus Addressing the Students & Teachers of Maracha SS at the Closure of the School on Thursday 21-7-2022.

     👆👆 DPC ASP Musinguzi interacting with the DISO Mr Samuel during the closure of the School 21-7-2022.

Photos compiled by Hon Ariaka Vincent, Male Youth Councillor Maracha District.

Maracha secondary school in Maracha district has, on 21-7-2022 been closed following a violent student fight with Otravu secondary school in Uganda's West Nile region. 

The decision to close the school indefinitely came after the students of Maracha SS attacked their counterparts from Otravu SS on Thursday morning in retaliation for a similar attack in which school properties were destroyed on Wednesday night.

The students were, however, intercepted by police who fired teargas canisters and live bullets to disperse the rowdy students. Three students and one police officer were injured in the process and are receiving treatment in various health facilities in the Maracha district.

Daniel Leku, the headteacher of Maracha SS says that their attempt to block the students from leaving the school compound was futile as they broke through the school fence to attack Otravu SS.

Maracha resident district commissioner (RDC) Festus Ayikobua says that the decision to send the students home is to prevent further clashes and destruction of property as they investigate the matter. He added that the students became rowdy after they attempted to conduct a roll call of those who remained at the compound during the time of the attack.

William Andeoye, the LC III chairperson of Nyadri sub-county where the school is located has described the incident as unfortunate and blamed it on poor parenting. According to the police, two students of Maracha SS have been arrested to help in investigations following the incident.

The latest incident comes just a few days after four students of Okufura secondary school and Nile High Odia secondary school in the Arua district were arrested over malicious damage of property following an inter-school fight, in which school properties were vandalized and over six students injured.

This is not the first time students of the two schools attacked each other. In 2013, students of Maracha SS and Otravu SS clashed during the district post-primary football and netball championships hosted at Nyoro primary school. As a result, both schools were suspended from participating in the tournament for two years.