At least 50 students in Mbale Municipality have been hospitalized after they got injured as a result of a fracas they caused when a fight broke out over a love affair gone bad.
The fight broke out between Mbale Secondary School and Mbale High School. It is alleged that during the scuffle, police fired teargas canisters into Mbale S.S compound, leaving students and teachers scampering for safety.
The injured students are currently admitted at Mbale Referral Hospital, Joy Hospice, Viena Clinic, and Mbale General Clinic, among others.
One of the students admitted at Mbale referral hospital says the fight started after a student of Mbale SS attacked a colleague from Mbale High School, accusing him of falling in love with his long-time girlfriend.
Mr Stephen Wambalo, the head teacher Mbale High School, said the admitted students inhaled teargas, which left them unconscious before they collapsed.
“When police intervened, it fired teargas, which left many of students screaming for help as they were choking,” he said.
The Elgon Regional Police Spokesperson, Mr Robert Tukei confirmed the incident but dismissed the allegations that students were hospitalized because of inhaling teargas.
“The police only responded to stop the fight, which had broken out. If some of them were injured, they were injured during the fight not necessarily inhaling teargas,” he said.
He however, acknowledged that over 30 students from respective schools have been arrested over inciting violence and are currently detained at Mbale Central Police Station.
