A tragic incident unfolded at Teso Progressive Academy (TEPA) in Ngora District on the morning of November 18, 2025, when an attempted arrest involving police and a UPDF soldier resulted in the deaths of a senior student and a teacher. The confrontation occurred at around 10:37 a.m., raising serious questions about the involvement of armed security personnel in school-related disciplinary matters.
According to school authorities, the events began when the school’s director, Mr. John Omugur, contacted local police after a suspended student, Okiror Gabriel, returned to the school premises. Okiror, a 20-year-old Senior Three student, had been suspended in mid-October over repeated theft-related incidents. His unexpected return on November 18 prompted the administration to seek police intervention.
At approximately 10:09 a.m., Police Constable Ijobu Sylvia and UPDF soldier Private Atim Agnes arrived at the school carrying an AK-47 rifle. Pte Atim, attached to the Military Police, was reportedly in the area to provide security for UNEB examinations. Attempts to arrest Okiror escalated when he allegedly resisted, resulting in a physical confrontation.
During the struggle, Pte Atim is reported to have taken the AK-47 from PC Ijobu and fired a single shot. The bullet struck Okiror in the chest, killing him instantly, and then fatally wounded Geography teacher Majja Bernard, who was nearby. Majja was rushed to Soroti Regional Referral Hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.
Eyewitness accounts and the police report confirm that only one bullet was discharged and that Pte Atim was the one who pulled the trigger. The presence and handling of a military firearm during a school disciplinary matter has drawn widespread concern, with many questioning the judgment, training, and emotional restraint of the officers involved.
Following the shooting, both PC Ijobu Sylvia and Pte Atim Agnes fled the scene. Authorities report that both officers remain at large, and efforts are underway to locate them. Investigators are also looking into why a UPDF soldier, rather than the police officer, ended up controlling the firearm, and why procedures failed so severely during what should have been a routine arrest of a suspended student.
The incident has shocked the Ngora community and triggered anger among parents, teachers, and civil society groups. Many have condemned the use of live ammunition in a school environment and demanded accountability for the deaths of the student and the teacher.
“This kind of indiscipline from armed personnel is unacceptable,” a local activist said. “Children should never be handled with guns. We want justice for the boy and safety for our children in schools.”
As investigations continue, pressure is mounting on security agencies to explain the circumstances leading to the fatal shooting and to ensure that similar tragedies do not occur in learning institutions. The deaths of Okiror and teacher Majja Bernard have renewed calls for clear reforms on how police and military personnel operate within civilian settings, especially schools.
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