Kigezi High School is under scrutiny after a violent bullying incident left a Senior Five student hospitalized in critical condition, raising serious concerns about student safety, discipline, and the school’s ability to protect learners from this vice.
This came to light after an incident occurred on the night of Friday, March 20th, 2026, when a senior six student allegedly assaulted a newly admitted senior five student (names withheld). The victim was rushed to Rugarama Hospital, where he remains under medical care.
Preliminary reports indicate that the suspect had been demanding UGX 20,000 from newcomers for dormitory bed allocations. When the victim could not pay, the suspect allegedly resorted to violently assaulting him.
In an interview on Tuesday, March 24th, 2026, the school’s head teacher, Abraham Akampurira, confirmed the incident and said disciplinary action had been initiated.
“It is true that a Senior Six student assaulted a Senior Five student on Friday night. The school promptly rushed the victim to hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment, and disciplinary action has been initiated against the suspect,” the school’s headteacher said.
However, further information suggests that the incident may not be isolated. Several students are reported to have previously experienced similar forms of bullying, raising questions about the school’s handling of discipline and student welfare.
At the time of reporting, at least three additional students had reportedly been admitted to Rugarama Hospital following related incidents, although efforts to obtain confirmation from hospital management were unsuccessful.
Agnes Asiimwe, the Kabale Municipality Inspector of Schools, condemned bullying particularly against new students such as those in Senior One and Senior Five warning that such behavior undermines learning and could lead to serious consequences, including possible school closure.
“Such behavior is unacceptable and disrupts the safety and well-being of learners. Schools must take firm action or risk facing closure,” she cautioned.
Bullying and violence at Kigezi High School are not new concerns.
In June 2019, another Senior Five student from Kigezi High School was stoned to death during a clash with students from Nyabikoni Secondary School.
The confrontation occurred in the evening around 5 p.m., when a large group of Kigezi High students reportedly left the school armed with knives, machetes, clubs, and sticks, and invaded a boys’ hostel at Nyabikoni Secondary School in Kanyakiriro Village, Central Division, Kabale Municipality, for reasons that remain unclear.
Nyabikoni students fought back, and in the confrontation, the Kigezi High student, identified as Bakashaba, was struck on the head with a blunt object believed to be a stone, sustaining serious injuries which led him bleed to death 50 meters away from Nyabikoni S.S.
The latest incident at Kigezi High School highlights ongoing concerns about bullying and student safety in Ugandan schools.
While the school has initiated disciplinary action and investigations are ongoing, the recurrence of such violent episodes shows the urgent need for stricter enforcement of rules, effective supervision, and comprehensive measures to protect learners.
Experts and education authorities continue to call for stronger systems to ensure that schools provide safe, supportive, and disciplined environments where students can learn without fear.
