Maranda High School faces closure as Form Four students sent home following fresh unrest

Maranda High School is on the verge of a total, indefinite closure after the administration ordered Form Four students to also go home with immediate effect Monday afternoon.

The drastic decision follows a wave of fresh defiance from the candidates, coming less than 24 hours after a devastating Sunday evening arson attack.

According to Principal Dr Edwin Namachanja, the difficult decision to release the candidates was made in consultation with the Director of Education’s office to protect lives and secure school property.

This followed a lunchtime protest where the Form Four students broke dining hall plates and threw away their food. The candidates also flatly refused to attend afternoon classes, instead writing and circulating notes demanding to be sent home.

The school administration is now contemplating to also send Grade 10 students home by Tuesday morning, which would effectively shut down the institution indefinitely.

The escalation comes after Form Three students allegedly set ablaze the three-story Owino "B" dormitory, which houses the Form Four students, on Sunday evening. The fire reduced personal property of unknown value to ashes.

While the rest of the Form Three cohort was sent home earlier today morning to avert violent clashes between the two classes, 12 students were arrested while attempting to flee the scene and spent the night at Bondo Police Station.

Bondo Sub-County Police Commandant Robert Aboki revealed that detectives have recovered crucial CCTV footage from two petrol stations within Bondo town. The footage captures six of the detained students purchasing the fuel used in the attack.

The 12 suspects are expected to be formally arraigned at the Bondo Law Courts on Tuesday to face arson charges after the court granted police temporary custody to finalize investigations.