109 grade 10 students miss national exams after Bareji violence
One hundred and nine Grade 10 students at Bareji High School in the Northern Province have been unable to sit their 2026 National Examinations following a deadly stabbing incident and subsequent violence at the school on Monday.
Bareji High School is a boarding school located along the Afore Highway, on the border of Ijivitari and Popondetta districts.
The National Examinations began on Monday, October 5, and will end on Friday, October 9.
The students did not sit their examinations after the stabbing incident resulted in a death, the burning of a dormitory and the destruction of school properties.
Head Teacher for Bareji High School, Moses Sari, says the incident stemmed from a relationship between two Grade 9 students, which the female student's mother disapproved of.
The mother allegedly pulled out a bush knife to stab the male student, but ended up stabbing her own daughter, leading to her death.
Following the death, relatives of the deceased female student retaliated and burned down a male dormitory and destroyed the school administration building, three staff houses and the school mess on Monday, October 5, 2026.
Mr Sari said the relatives were armed with guns, bush knives, spears and other weapons, and fired gunshots.
The deceased female student has been taken to the Popondetta Hospital morgue, while the suspect mother has been detained at the Popondetta police cell.
Teachers, students and parents fled the school, taking refuge in nearby bushes until daybreak.
They have since been moved out of the school premises as of Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
High and Secondary School Inspector Jess Jim says the school will remain "closed until the issue is ironed out".
PPC Northern Chief Inspector Charles Winuwan says the arson case suspects will be arrested soon with the help of community leaders from the Bareji area.
