SOUTHERN PROVINCE

KAMONYI/MUHANGA – Six students of ASEPKA Secondary School were last week arrested over allegations of perpetrating Genocide ideology.

The Police who we spoke to said that the students whose names could not released , majority of them in senior two, were arrested after being suspected to have written derogatory remarks against  and torn clothes of a Genocide survivor student in Kayenzi, Kamonyi District.

Investigations are still ongoing, police said. Similar incidences have also been reported at College St. Marie Reine, a Catholic Church founded school, in Nyamabuye Sector.

District and security officials in both districts have previously warned students against misconduct and perpetrating animosity against survivors which would be interpreted as perpetrating Genocide ideology. The latest incidence a source who did not want to be quoted showed that students have not heeded such calls.

The issue of such misconduct by some students was first raised at an education meeting, held at the Muhanga cultural centre on May 20 during which head teachers were blamed for failing to urgently curb such concerns.

"Some teachers have totally been negligent towards students’ conduct and do not address these issues before they escalate. We need to act now and teachers should play a leading role by being more responsible,” Alice Uwimbabazi, the Muhanga vice Mayor said at the meeting.

Col. Damascene Sekamana, the RDF area Division Commander, urged headmasters and teachers to come up with uniform guidelines on issues related to students’ conduct.

All teachers agreed that the new law against Genocide ideology be distributed to all schools and special education programmes be conducted in order to curb the vice.

Some teachers however, blamed alcoholism and drug abuse for such unbecoming conduct, pointing out that there is need for stringent measures to control student behavior.

It was also agreed that parents, teachers, school heads and local leaders should work together to instill discipline among students.

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