Authorities in eastern Uganda have launched an investigation after a student from Mbale High School was fatally stabbed during a violent clash involving rival student groups.
The incident occurred on Monday evening near Amber Stores in the Industrial City Division of Mbale City. The victim, 19-year-old Shafik Wasike, was reportedly attacked and stabbed with a screwdriver during an altercation that escalated among student gangs.
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Wasike was rushed to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital by fellow students but was pronounced dead on arrival.
According to Elgon region police spokesperson Rogers Taitika, the attack was carried out by a group of students affiliated with different schools in the area. “Preliminary findings indicate that the deceased and his friends were ambushed by another gang, and he was stabbed with what we suspect was a screwdriver,” Mr Taitika said. He added that efforts were underway to identify and arrest those involved.
The fatal incident has raised renewed alarm about rising youth violence and gang activity within secondary schools in Mbale City. Several schools in the area have reportedly been linked to known student groups, including “Street Hunters,” “City Takers,” “72 Evils,” and “Virgin Hunters.” These gang names are frequently found inscribed on school walls and in restrooms, authorities say.
Local schools named in connection with this ongoing rivalry include Mbale High School, Nkoma Secondary School, Bugisu High School, Mbale Progressive SS, St. Mary’s College, and Mbale Comprehensive SS, among others.
Speaking to journalists, one student from Mbale High School said Wasike had left school around 5:00 pm to retrieve a bag from a girl who had taken it to Amber Stores. He never made it back. “Later, we were informed that he had been attacked and killed,” the student said.
Wasike’s mother, Kasifa Namuwenge, confirmed receiving news of her son’s death in the early evening. “By the time I arrived, he had already died,” she said, calling for a thorough investigation into the killing.
Fred Wamusi, Deputy Headteacher for Academics at Mbale High School, said school authorities are still trying to establish the full circumstances surrounding the attack. “We have heard claims that he was attacked by a gang, but we are yet to confirm who was responsible. We are exploring the possibility of reviewing nearby CCTV footage,” Mr. Wamusi stated.
The tragedy has intensified calls for improved student safety and greater oversight in the management of inter-school relations. In Mbale, many of the major government schools are located in close proximity, a factor believed to contribute to regular gang clashes—especially during school dismissals or when students are sent home over unpaid fees.
Wasike’s death has shocked the Bugisu sub-region and adds to growing concerns over the wave of student violence that continues to impact schools across Uganda.
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