Shock as angry teacher sets staff quarters on fire

Shock has gripped residents of Abera Sub County in Lamwo district after a teacher set ablaze three grass-thatched staff houses at Cubu Primary School.

Patrick Okee was apprehended on Monday and is currently being held at Lamwo Central Police Station. The suspect tried to elude arrest and was reportedly nabbed while fleeing towards Kitgum district.

Okee was allegedly seen by one of the teachers who was weeding in her nearby garden when the suspect torched two huts that were completely razed down while one was saved after the intervention of neighbors.
Household property, valuables, and food staff worth millions of shillings, and money totaling 600,000 shillings belonging to the teaching staff were destroyed in the fire.

The suspect who was a former teacher at the school is said to have acted under frustration and in retaliation following an indefinite suspension that he was served over gross indiscipline.
According to Michael Ocan the school deputy headteacher, Okee was under suspension on allegations of overdrinking while on duty, absenteeism, and theft of school property which he repeatedly did despite numerous cautions.
The suspect was suspended in April this year and has persistently been petitioning his office and that of the chairperson Parents Teachers Association and the School Management Committee to consider reinstating him in service.

Okee has allegedly been issuing threatening statements in public that he would do something disastrous if the school administrators fail to reinstate him back to work.

Robert Kacumu the Lamwo District Police Commander says investigations into the matter are ongoing although criminal charges of arson and malicious damage to property have already been preferred against the suspect.