The Bamasaaba cultural institution is actively addressing the alarming rise of school gangs in the Mbale region, particularly within Masaabaland.
These gangs, defined as organized groups whose members engage in criminal activities, pose a significant threat to school environments and the wider community.
Our cultural intelligence desk has gathered substantial data indicating that these school gangs possess highly organized leadership structures and clear reporting lines.
Members of these gangs reportedly take oaths before senior leaders and perform rituals to bind themselves to the group. They utilize specific symbols and codes for identification and frequently employ violence and intimidation to achieve their objectives.
In the Mbale region, the emergence of school gangs is exacerbated by the urban environment and the prevalence of broken homes. Many members are often involved in delinquent street behaviors when not in school, including begging for money to purchase drugs and other illicit substances. Gangs operate collectively; for instance, a leader might deploy one member to commit a theft while monitoring from a distance, with reinforcements ready if needed. Any stolen goods must be returned to the group’s leaders, and failure to comply can result in severe repercussions, including death.
Poverty is a common factor contributing to the rise of gangs in schools, driven by desires for material possessions like expensive phones, powerful motorbikes, or even cars to impress peers. Some gang activities are motivated by romantic relationships, with members stealing to fulfill the perceived needs of their girlfriends. The cultural deviance theory suggests that such gang behavior is a result of individuals conforming to a subculture that deviates from mainstream societal norms. Research findings corroborate this, linking the increase in school gangs to poverty, the desire to impress peers, and a breakdown in sociological and moral values within homes. It is concerning when parents overlook or even condone their children possessing expensive items, such as a phone costing over 2 million Ugandan shillings, without questioning its origin.
As a cultural institution, we are actively visiting various schools across Masaabaland to engage with learners about increasing criminal behaviors. Our cultural intelligence desk possesses sufficient data on gang-related issues in schools. A tragic incident recently occurred where a student was fatally stabbed by a gang member from a neighboring school. Police have since apprehended some students from Nkoma and Mbale Progressive schools in connection with this heinous act, and they will face the full force of the law if found guilty.
A majority of gang members consume narcotics to fuel their criminal activities. This drug use often impairs their reasoning capacity, leading to impulsive and violent behavior. A recent visit to the Mbale psychiatric ward revealed numerous school learners undergoing rehabilitation for drug-induced conditions, albeit with limited success.
The Bamasaaba cultural institution is advocating for local governments in Bugisu to enact by-laws to combat this vice. We are also conducting cross-regional engagements in schools to address drug consumption. Often, conflicts initiated by these school gangs within school premises spill over into communities, escalating into violent confrontations involving rocks, stones, and even knives. It is entirely unacceptable for students to carry knives in schools. A recent incident saw a group of students from different schools clashing in a Mbale city trading center, prompting villagers to intervene with pangas and machetes after a child was severely injured by thrown boulders.
Our approach to confronting this issue involves initiating cultural talks in schools. These talks will guide learners to adhere to both school rules and cultural norms. We will consistently engage all learners, from primary to secondary levels. While both girls and boys are involved in gang activities, boys constitute the majority. Recent incidents, such as a girl slapping a teacher and another girl allegedly killing her boyfriend in Western Uganda and subsequently fleeing, underscore the severity of these gang-related behaviors.
Therefore, I issue a clarion call to all Ugandans, particularly the Bamasaaba community and students: the Bamasaaba cultural institution is committed to campaigning against these negative practices in schools. We are also educating learners about the severe consequences of criminal acts. Ugandan laws impose stringent punishments for crimes such as robbery, narcotics consumption, theft, defilement, and rape.
We urge learners to abide by school policies and Bamasaaba cultural values to avoid the heavy penalties enforced by the government. Even a seemingly minor crime can lead to detention by the police.
Written by Steven Masiga
Spokesperson, Bamasaaba Cultural Institution
Tel: 0782231577
