Tension remains high in Maziba sub-county, Kabale district, after angry parents set ablaze the home of a local teacher, accusing him of being behind a series of unexplained and disturbing incidents affecting pupils at Maziba Mixed Primary School.
On Monday, residents destroyed three houses belonging to Monday Expedito, a teacher at the school, cut down his banana plantation, and killed over 20 pigs and several goats. The mob action followed ongoing claims that Expedito was responsible for a wave of what parents believe are spiritual or "demonic" attacks on learners.
The school had been closed earlier this term by district authorities after reports that pupils were suffering from severe headaches, vomiting, and bizarre behavior—including calling out Expedito’s name and hitting their heads against walls. According to parents, these symptoms only occurred while the children were at school.
The situation escalated two weeks ago when 16 pupils reportedly experienced the symptoms on the same day. Some parents suspect the disturbances are connected to an earlier incident where Expedito allegedly asked pupils to bring Shs 100 coins, which they claim may have triggered the episodes.
Kabale Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Godfrey Nyakahuma and District Education Officer (DEO) Moses Bwengye Tumwijukye rushed to the scene to calm the situation. Nyakahuma condemned the destruction and warned that parents who take the law into their own hands risk arrest.
“The accused teacher will be summoned to Kabale Central Police Station to make a statement,” Nyakahuma said. “Mob justice is unacceptable.”
The DEO, Bwengye, ordered the school to reopen and directed that spiritual interventions by clergy continue alongside investigations. He also instructed that another teacher, Doreen Nayebare, who is accused of working with Expedito, should stay away from the school until further notice.
Maziba LC III Chairperson Onesmus Mutungi urged security to advise Expedito to temporarily leave the area for his safety.
Local leader Tofiri Ngabirano accused Expedito of past suspicious behavior, including an incident where he allegedly slaughtered a hen with a pupil—something many locals believe triggered the spiritual unrest.
Expedito and his family have reportedly gone into hiding. Police are now investigating both the alleged attacks on pupils and the violent retaliation by the community.
While many in the community believe the incidents are spiritual, education and health experts suggest a mix of psychological, social, and cultural factors may be at play. Cases of collective panic or mass hysteria have previously been recorded in schools across Africa and Asia.
The Ministry of Education and Sports has urged schools to report such incidents for formal investigation instead of relying solely on spiritual or community-led responses.
