Oyam, Uganda – Police at Oyam Central Police Station (CPS) were forced to intervene on Sunday morning to prevent a violent confrontation between Christians from Wigweng Catholic Chapel and community members regarding the ownership status of Acaba Technical School.
The clash centered on a signpost at the school’s entrance. According to reports, Christians gathered at the location in an attempt to rewrite the signage to identify the institution as “Catholic‑founded.” This action comes just weeks after an earlier incident on March 24, 2026, in which two men—George Oyuku and George Alwong—allegedly altered the signpost, changing the wording from “Catholic funded” to “community funded.”
The two men are also facing accusations of threatening retired headteacher Celestino Akar. Mr. Akar has since registered a case of malicious damage and threatening violence (SD 24/20/02/2026) at Oyam CPS.
Tensions reached a peak on Sunday morning when a community member confronted the group of Christians near the signpost, prompting police to rush to the scene.
Alfose Ojok, Vice Chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council of Anyeke Catholic Parish, alleged that the Christians were engaged in a peaceful exercise when police officers attacked them and confiscated their equipment. He accused the police of engaging in “false play” by failing to act on the initial case of malicious damage filed against the two community members last month.
However, the District Police Commander (DPC) of Oyam, Francis Okongo, defended the police action, stating that the intervention was necessary to prevent the dispute from escalating into a full-blown clash between the Catholic and Anglican communities.
George Alwong, one of the accused individuals involved in the initial signpost alteration, dismissed the actions of the Christians on Sunday. He labeled their attempt to rewrite the signpost as “foolishness,” arguing that the matter regarding the school’s foundation is already under police investigation.
The broader question of who legally founded Acaba Technical School is now awaiting a higher authority. Oyam District Speaker, Nommy Otyeno, noted that the matter is currently before the Ministry of Education and Sports, which is expected to determine the rightful founding body of the institution.
Acaba Technical School, located in Abanya Cell, Western Ward, Oyam Town Council, was established in 1984 as a government-owned technical and vocational education (TVET) institution.
However, local history suggests a complex origin. Patrick Okello, a senior citizen in the village, explained that the school initially started from Wigweng Primary School—an institution with Catholic foundation. He noted that the community later donated additional land freely to allow for the expansion and growth of the technical school, contributing to the current confusion over its founding identity.
