Parents burn down teacher’s home in Kabale over ‘demonic’ attacks on pupils
Tension is still high in Maziba sub-county, Kabale district, after angry parents set fire to the home of Monday Expedito, a teacher at Maziba Mixed Primary School, accusing him of being behind a wave of alleged demonic attacks on pupils.
The school was recently closed by district authorities following persistent reports of mysterious pupil afflictions that began last term. Parents claim that affected pupils initially complain of severe headaches, followed by strange behaviour, including vomiting, hitting their heads against walls, and calling out teacher Monday’s name, symptoms that reportedly only manifest while the children are at school.
The situation escalated about two weeks ago when 16 pupils were reportedly afflicted in a single day. Some parents allege that the incidents are linked to a demand by Expedito for each pupil to bring a Shs 100 coin, which they claim may have been used to trigger spiritual disturbances.
This is the second reported mass episode, the first having disrupted end-of-term exams last term. Despite prayers by parents, teachers, and exorcism by the Catholic Charismatic clergy, the problem has persisted. On Monday, enraged parents and residents descended on Expedito’s residence.
They burned down three of his houses, destroyed a banana plantation, and killed livestock, including over 20 pigs and several goats.
The incident prompted immediate intervention from Kabale resident district commissioner (RDC) Godfrey Nyakahuma and district education officer (DEO) Moses Bwengye Tumwijukye, who rushed to the scene. Nyakahuma condemned the mob action and called for calm.
He said the accused teacher will be summoned to Kabale Central Police Station to record a statement, warning parents not to take the law into their own hands, else they face arrests. The DEO, Bwengye, directed the school administration to resume normal operations, while spiritual interventions by clergy continue.
He also ordered that another teacher, Doreen Nayebare, accused of conspiring with Expedito, stay away from the school until investigations are concluded. Maziba sub-county LC III chairperson Onesmus Mutungi urged security agencies to advise Expedito to temporarily vacate the area for his own safety.
Local leader Tofiri Ngabirano claimed previous attempts to engage the teacher had failed and accused him of having once slaughtered a hen with a pupil at the school, an incident many locals believe marked the onset of the disturbances.
Expedito and his family are reportedly on the run, and police have opened inquiries into both the alleged spiritual attacks and the violent retaliation by the community.
DEMONIC ATTACKS OR STRESS?
While these collective panic attacks are often attributed to spiritual forces, witchcraft, or unresolved community tensions, education and mental health experts point to a complex mix of causes, ranging from mass hysteria, stress among learners, and underlying mental health conditions, to cultural beliefs and socioeconomic pressures. Similar attacks have been documented among learners in Ethiopia, Ghana, Philippines, among others.
Religious leaders have often been called in to conduct prayer sessions or exorcisms. However, some argue that these interventions, while culturally accepted, do not address the root causes of such events and may even reinforce fear and superstition.
The ministry of Education and Sports has in the past urged school administrators to document such incidents and report them to district education offices and health authorities for proper investigation.
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