Chaos at Mbale High School: Dormitory Set Ablaze, Property Destroyed After Students Protest La Liga Match Ban

Mbale High School has been closed indefinitely following a night of chaos, where students went on a rampage over being denied the chance to watch Sunday’s La Liga football matches. What was supposed to be a normal Sunday evening quickly turned into a scene of destruction and violence.

Sources reveal that the students were protesting not only the ban on watching the football match but also other unresolved grievances. The situation escalated, and in a shocking turn of events, a dormitory was set ablaze, allegedly using motorbike fuel—an indication of premeditated action by some students.

Lockers were thrown onto the Mbale–Chavakali Highway, causing traffic disruptions and damaging vehicles. The school’s newly constructed perimeter wall fence was torn down, and the school gate was ripped off its hinges. Windows were shattered, and the air was filled with panic and smoke.

Police officers were called to the scene and had to fire teargas canisters to subdue the rioting students. Despite these efforts, the chaos raged on into the night.

Reports indicate that a teacher was critically injured after being attacked by students and is currently in hospital. Several students were also injured and are receiving treatment at nearby health facilities. Others fled into neighboring villages and are yet to be accounted for.

This incident has sparked nationwide concern about student behavior, school management, and how grievances are handled within learning institutions. The closure of Mbale High School underscores the urgent need for dialogue, improved student engagement, and proactive conflict resolution mechanisms in schools across Kenya.