Masindi – Budongo Seed Secondary School has found itself at the heart of a dramatic scandal. Four teachers and a school guard have been detained at Masindi Police Station over the theft of 16 computers. It appears that the educators decided to swap lesson plans for a late night heist plan.
The suspects, identified as Danson Arinaitwe, Edando Yefune, Violet Sikujuwa, Clare Katuhairwe, and Leonard Billen (the askari), were caught in what seems like a poorly executed Ocean’s Eleven remake. According to the Albertine Police spokesperson Julius Hakiza, the raid occurred in the wee hours of July 17, 2024, when thieves brazenly walked away with 16 computers from the school lab.
It all went down like a poorly written Nollywood script. The thugs strolled into the computer room through an unlocked door. To add insult to injury, the CCTV cameras were conveniently switched off. Talk about an open invitation! The school management discovered the missing computers at around 7:00 am on Wednesday and quickly alerted the police.
Police were quick to respond, and by Thursday, five staff members found themselves behind bars. They’re believed to have masterminded the heist with a few other accomplices still on the run. Hakiza assured the public that investigations are ongoing and that the suspects will be brought to justice.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 17, 2024 | Thieves raid Budongo Seed Secondary School |
| July 18, 2024 | Five staff members arrested |
| Ongoing | Hunt for other suspects continues |
Godon Kigongo, the headteacher, expressed his shock and disappointment. “Sixteen out of our 28 computers were stolen. This is a significant loss for the school,” he lamented. He added that the police were swift in their response and assured that more details will be shared once investigations are complete.
Sunday Eyotu, the LC3 chairperson for Nyantonzi sub-county, called the theft a major setback. He urged the police to expedite their investigation and recover the stolen computers, emphasizing their importance in modern secondary education.
This isn’t the first time schools in the Bunyoro region have been targeted.
Other Notable Thefts of ICT Equipment:
| Date | School | Computers Stolen |
|---|---|---|
| November 2022 | Kigorobya Seed Sec. School | 16 |
| April 2024 | Butiaba Seed Sec. School | 21 |
| May 2024 | Nyairongo Seed Sec. School | 27 |
Clearly, there’s a trend here. Schools in the region have become hot spots for tech-savvy thieves, or perhaps, just opportunistic locals who see computers as quick cash.
The theft of computers is not just about missing hardware; it’s a blow to the educational progress of the region. As schools strive to modernize and integrate ICT into their curriculum, such thefts set back these efforts significantly.
