Ntare School in Mbarara District has suspended an entire Senior Three class of 540 students following a violent protest sparked by the dismissal of a classmate.
The unrest, which left school property damaged, was triggered by the expulsion of a student only identified as Kiburura. Administrators say he was sent home for examination malpractice. Some students, however, allege the move was an attempt to silence him for reportedly investigating claims of homosexuality at the prestigious boys’ school.
Head teacher Saul Rwampororo said the situation had been deteriorating for weeks due to “endless fights” between Senior Three and Senior Four students.
“We suspended the [S.3] boy for exam malpractice. However, they continued to fight with S.4 students during their mock exams. We could not tolerate that,” Rwampororo said.
The trouble began when Senior Three students boycotted supper, demanding a full explanation for their classmate’s removal. Attempts to mediate collapsed, and tensions flared when Senior Four learners were brought in to calm the boycott — sparking fresh confrontations instead.
Teachers later called in Senior Six students to help restore order, but the situation worsened. That night, during the school’s screening of the Super Cup final between Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain, Senior Four students allegedly barred their Senior Three peers from entering the hall, some wielding sticks.
The standoff erupted into stone-throwing, with windows smashed and property destroyed.
According to Rwampororo, all suspended students will undergo screening before returning. Ringleaders will face additional disciplinary measures.
The allegations that underpinned the protests intersect with Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023, one of the harshest anti-LGBTQ laws in the world.
The legislation prescribes life imprisonment for consensual same-sex acts and the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” including cases involving minors or coercion.
It also criminalizes the promotion of homosexuality and punishes failure to report suspected violations with up to 20 years in prison.
Older provisions under the Penal Code Act (Cap. 120) remain active, including Section 145, which outlaws “carnal knowledge against the order of nature” also punishable by life imprisonment.
In a school context like Ntare’s, confirmed same-sex acts involving minors could trigger severe criminal charges, not only for alleged offenders but also for anyone accused of concealing such incidents.
