A disturbing and tragic event unfolded at Teso Progressive Academy (TEPA) in Ngora Town Council on the morning of November 18, 2025. At about 10:37 AM, a violent confrontation ended with the death of a 20-year-old student, Okiror Gabriel, and left a teacher badly injured.
Police say the situation began when the school’s director, Omugur John, called in Pte Atim Agnes of the UPDF and PC Ijobu Sylvia from Ngora Central Police Station to address disciplinary concerns involving Gabriel. The student, who had reportedly been involved in previous violent incidents and theft, had just returned to campus that same morning after being absent since mid-October.
According to preliminary findings, Gabriel resisted the officers’ attempts to engage him. During the scuffle, Pte Atim Agnes is alleged to have seized an AK-47 rifle from PC Ijobu Sylvia and opened fire. The bullet struck Gabriel in the chest, killing him instantly, before ricocheting and injuring geography teacher Majja Bernard, who had been seated nearby. Bernard was rushed to Mbale for emergency treatment and survived the attack.
Witnesses described panic erupting across the school grounds, with Gabriel’s body discovered partially undressed in the compound. Investigators recovered a single cartridge from the scene. The AK-47, identified by serial number UG POL 56-5811520.35798, still contained 29 rounds in its magazine. Police have recorded the case under SD reference 25/18/11/2025 and CRB 352/2025, and a full investigation is underway.
The shooting has sparked widespread concern over the deployment of armed officers in schools and the use of live ammunition during disciplinary interventions. Both Pte Atim Agnes and PC Ijobu Sylvia have since disappeared, and efforts to locate and arrest them are ongoing. Authorities are collecting more witness statements, conducting forensic tests, and reviewing all events that led to the fatal shooting.
The incident has deeply shaken the TEPA community, leaving students, staff, and parents in grief. It has also intensified calls for clear safety protocols, better handling of student discipline, and stricter guidelines governing armed personnel in educational environments.
