81 students Muntuyera high school in Ntungamo district have been suspended following ethnic clashes between senior four and senior five students pitting Bahima against those of Rwandan origin.
Stephen Atuhaire, the School Head Teacher says the clashes originated from discussions on the proposed amendment of the presidential age limit when the discussions that started on Friday last week split the students into two rival groups.
Accordingly, one of the groups argued in favor of the proposal while the other opposed the move. Atuhaire says that on Tuesday night, senior four students assaulted their senior five colleagues leading to serious clashes which left six students injured in the clashes.
Consequently, senior five students held a meeting outside the school premises and planned a revenge attack but they were stopped by the heavy police deployment in and around the school.
Following their aborted move, the students retreated to bars in Rwashameire town council where they planned another attack in the hours of Wednesday morning and also burn the school.
Atuhaire, however, says that when the students stormed the dormitories they found them empty and decided to raid examination rooms but met stiff residents from their senior six colleagues and police.
The school management in a bid to stem the clashes decided to suspend the entire senior five class. However, the group was ambushed by their senior 4 colleagues who were armed with sticks in Rwashameire town council leading to fresh clashes.
He says the school administration took the decision to send away all senior five students to allow the senior candidates to complete their examinations in a peaceful environment.
Atuhaire blames the clashes on indiscipline, saying some students always fear to sit the south Ankole diocese examinations, which are scheduled for next week. He says police have also launched investigations into the clashes, saying the culprits will be brought to book.
Politics is always part of the student's discussions at Muntuyera high school, which is named after the father of the Forum for Democratic Change-FDC party president, General Mugisha Muntu for donating a huge chunk of land to the school.