4 teachers, Askari arrested over theft of computers in Masindi

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Five staff of Budongo Seed Secondary School in Masindi district have been arrested in connection with the theft of 16 computers.

Police have identified the suspects as Danson Arinaitwe, Edando Yefune, Violet Sikujuwa, Clare Katuhairwe, all teachers at the school and Leonard Billen a guard of the school.

In the wee hours of Wednesday, July 17, 2024, thugs raided the school and made off with 16 computers that had been installed in the school lab.

"We promptly responded and initiated investigations. We have so apprehended the five staff members to help us with investigations," Albertine Police region spokesperson Julius Hakiza said on Thursday.

The suspects, who are currently detained at the Masindi Police Station, are believed to have planned, connived and stolen the computers with other suspects still at large.

Hakiza told New Vision Online that the thugs accessed the school computer room through the door that had not been locked and that the closed-circuit TC (CCTV) cameras that had been installed in the computer room were all switched off at the time the thugs raided the school.

"The hunt for other people believed to have connived with those arrested to steal the computers is ongoing and once inquiries are through, those arrested will be arraigned before the court to be charged with the theft of computers and negligence of duty respectively.

According to Godon Kigongo, the headteacher of the school, the management realised on Wednesday at about 7:00am that 16 of the 28 computers that had been installed in the computer lab were missing.

"The school management immediately alerted Masindi Police who swiftly responded and initiated investigations into the matter. We shall give you details when investigations are complete," he said.

The LC3 chairperson for Nyantonzi sub-county, Sunday Eyotu, described the theft as a big loss to the school and pleaded with the Police to expedite investigations and recover the stolen computers since they are very crucial in today’s secondary school learning.

Other thefts of ICT equipment 

This is not the first-time thugs are stealing computers installed in a government-aided secondary school in Bunyoro region.  

In November 2022, unknown thugs raided Kigorobya Seed Secondary School in Hoima district and made off with 16 computers.

The 16 stolen computers were part of the 29 installed computers in the school.

In April 2024, thugs raided Butiaba Seed Secondary School in Buliisa district and stole 21 computers that had been installed in the computer room.    

In May this year, unknown thugs raided and stole 27 computers from Nyairongo Seed Secondary School in Kyangwali sub-county in Kikuube District.