Schools often aspire to be nurturing and supportive institutions. For gay and lesbian students, however, experience dictates that it can be a place of seclusion rather than support. In fact, in many private and faith-based schools, “coming out” is sufficient grounds for expulsion.
However at Mbarara High School the oldest secondary school in Western Uganda and where Yoweri Kaguta Museveni – President of Uganda studied from reached the point of no return when they discovered that the highest student leader, School Head Boy was the recruiting officer.
Actually, over the weekend, the school founded 105 years ago by Anglican, Christian missionaries affiliated with the Church of England, decided to send over 20 boys home on suspicion of practicing homosexuality, Campus Bee reported.
They revealed how at around 2am on the morning of Sunday June 12 2016, three students in their senior three were caught viewing pictures on gay dating sites on their smart phones.
Before they knew what was happening, they were surrounded by a gang of their fellow students who started shouting, “homosexuals, homosexuals!
The noise alarmed the rest of the student’s community who gathered and started beating the three.
The victims were battered severely and forced to divulge names of other students involved in homosexuality.
In fear of being tortured further, they named a number of students; one of whom was the Head boy.
The Police intervened and rescued the victims from the lynching mob before escorting them to their homes.
Reports further indicate that as of Tuesday afternoon, management had a list of over 20 students who were being accused of engaging in same sex relationships and had resolved to suspend them indefinitely. Three students were injured in the fiasco and rushed to hospital.
One Mbarara based media station says that the school’s headmaster, Benon Twinomujuni, said the school authorities’ action was done in a bid to move the institution forward and to serve as deterrent to others.
Asked whether Mbarara High has punished students with expulsion or lesser penalties for engaging in prohibited behavior other than “homosexual acts,” Twinomujuni said yes.
“Our student Code of Conduct, which is clearly outlined, any student involved in sexually immoral behavior, including premarital sex, adultery, and homosexual acts, is at minimum sent home on suspension.”
He advised parents to be diligent in the upbringing of their wards, adding that the administration would not condone any act of indiscipline from any student.
In February 2014, President Museveni signed into law the Anti-Homosexuality Bill that spelt out tough penalties against gay people.
At the public signing ceremony, the President declared he would not allow the West to impose its values on Uganda.
However, six months later, the Constitutional Court declared the passing of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill into an Act a nullity.
Mbabara High School history
It was established in 1911 by Anglican Christian missionaries affiliated with the Church of England. The land on which the school was built is owned by Ankole Diocese, of the Church of Uganda. The school started as a Junior Secondary School and was one of the six junior secondary schools in Ankole district.
The other junior secondary schools were; St.Joseph and St.Hellens in Nyamitanga in Mbarara; Bweranyangi Girls in Bushenyi, St. Georges Kagongo in Ibanda, and Kitunga in Ntungamo district.
The school is among the most prestigious schools in Uganda, outstanding to its excellent academic record. It is located on Ruharo hill the seat of Ankole Diocese and it is next to the Bishop’s house.
The school is currently one of the biggest High Schools in Uganda with over 1,700 students. While the church of Uganda has the ownership and control of the school, the government of Uganda, through the ministry of education, contrubutes to the school’s budget.
