Classes at UMEA Day and Boarding Primary School in Mpigi District in central Uganda have been indefinitely closed after a number of students complained about strange illnesses that health workers in the area have failed to diagnose.
According to reports, since Monday, some pupils have been unable to attend lessons, complaining of strange illnesses that health workers in the area failed to diagnose.
The headteacher, Aliziki Nambi, announced the closure of the school following a meeting with local leaders.
“Since there have been no lessons for some days because pupils refused to go to their classes, I find it more necessary to send them back to their homes to give us time to resolve this problem,” said Aliziki Nambi.
It is alleged that on Thursday, around 50 pupils spent the whole day demonstrating and refusing to attend classes.
The worrying situation is blamed on a graveyard adjacent to the school.
Moses Balyohere, a long-serving teacher at the school said some pupils presented signs of mental disorder, shouting and jumping, while others were physically weak.
“Two teachers including myself have also been affected by these evil spirits but we have sought the intervention of sheikhs to pray for the victims and the school to exorcise the demons,” he said.
According to one of the pupils, many of her colleagues, who were reportedly attacked by the demons, became unconscious whenever they entered the mosque.
“The demons were saying they were disturbed when a mosque was built in the area and they want it removed. They are also unhappy that a tree where they used to rest was cut down,” she said.
The district inspector of schools, Gerald Katongole, said the school administration is yet to communicate to his office about what exactly happened.
“I have been busy with the registration of Primary Seven candidates, I am sure the school administration will tell me what transpired,” he said.
Demon attack reports have become a common phenomenon in schools across the country, with many pupils and students falling victim.