Two security guards arrested after burglary at Soroti school ICT lab

Two security guards have been arrested following the theft of four computer desktops and eight central processing units (CPU) at Asuret Seed secondary school in Soroti district, eastern Uganda.

Simon Okiria and Francis Alomu were on duty on the night of Tuesday when thieves cut through the school’s fence and broke into the ICT laboratory and made off with the computer accessories. Police also arrested a community member to assist with the investigation. The assailants also made off with the school projector, dealing a heavy blow to the school’s preparations for Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations.

“This situation has set the school back at a critical time,” said headteacher Tamali Ikengo. “It has left us with a substantial gap in our capabilities when we needed those computers the most.”

The burglary comes as 170 candidates prepare to sit for the UCE exams beginning Monday. With a total enrollment of 1,033 students, the school now has only 17 functioning computers, creating a major setback for ongoing teaching and last-minute exam preparations.

Preliminary investigations indicate the intruders broke the angle bars of the laboratory window to gain access. Ikengo revealed that the school had previously appealed to the district for support to construct a perimeter fence to boost security, a request that remains unfulfilled.

The arrested guards are currently being held at Katine police station, Soroti district.