Bobi Wine’s Son, Solomon Sekayi, Suspended from St Mary’s College Kisubi, over Marijuana

St Mary’s College Kisubi on February 1, 2022, suspended Solomon Sekayi Kyagulanyi, the son of National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi, over possession of illicit drugs at school.

This followed a surprise check of all students’ dormitories in mid January – just two weeks after students had returned to school, also known as SMACK.

According to the suspension letter dated February 1, on 17th January, “he (Sekayi) was caught with marijuana substance wrapped in papers like cigarette sticks and a lighter in his suitcase.”

The school’s disciplinary committee said Sekayi was “involved in acts of indiscipline incompatible with his status as a student of this college as a routine search” hence the suspension.

“Kyagulanyi Sekayi Solomon is therefore suspended from the college for two weeks with effect from Tuesday, 1st February 2022, basing the resolution to zero tolerance for indiscipline.”

According to a family member who spoke on condition of anonymity as this is a sensitive matter, Sekayi had in 2018 been involved in a case of serious misconduct at school but was cautioned by administrators.

His alleged accomplice was expelled from the school.

“On February 1, Sekayi was sent on suspension and was at his home with his parents for those two weeks,” said a relative.

School speaks out

Contacted for comment, Brother Deodati Aliganyira, the headmaster of St Mary’s College, confirmed the suspension of Sekayi.

“It’s true, that case was handled and we gave the boy (Sekayi), the last warning,” said Aliganyira.

Bobi Wine and Barbie with Solomon Sekayi at St Mary’s College, Kisubi a few years ago (Internet photo)

“He was found with drugs wrapped in papers like cigarettes and a lighter. He was suspended. That’s where we stopped,” he added.

Run by brothers of chrisitian instruction, St Mary’s College Kisubi, an all-boys boarding secondary school, enforces a high level of discipline among sudents.

Cases of misconduct are taken very seriously.

According to the school’s rules, students are prohibited from possessing illicit substances.

Rule number 10 provides that “students shall not take any intoxicants of prohibited drugs and shall not have them in their possession. Breach of this rule leads to suspension or indefinite suspension.”

Rule 15 (a) states that possession of cigarette lighters shall lead to indefinite suspension.

Rule 11 says possession of smoking cigarettes, tobacco pipes or any other noxious substance is prohibited. Breach of this rule shall lead to suspension or indefinite suspension.

ChimpReports has learned the school’s disciplinary committee sat on January 19, 2022 to discuss the matter.

In a letter to Sekayi’s parents, the school said its disciplinary committee resolved that “Sekayi breached rule 10l 15(a) and 11 of the school rules and regulations which is contrary to the undertaking of obedience you signed to gather with him.”

It is understood, some staff members on the disciplinary committee wanted Sekayi expelled from school but were reigned in by officials from the Ministry of Education.

Considering the country’s elite send their kids to St Mary’s College Kisubi, the administration is required to secure permission from the ministry before expelling students.

This website understands Sekayi’s parents, who had just returned from Brussels, reported to school with him on the morning of 15 February 2022.

The parents were required to make a fresh undertaking of obedience and compliance with school rules and regulations.

“This will serve as his last warning: should your son be involved in any form of indiscipline after the last warning, there will be no other alternative but only to go on indefinite suspension,” the school’s letter to Robert Kyagulanyi and Barbie Kyagulanyi reads in part.

Marijuana in schools

Cases of drug abuse among secondary school students have been on the rise in recent years, according to researchers, police and psychologists.

In 2020, the Church of Uganda instituted a programme to help young people to protect themselves from alcoholism and drug abuse.

The programme, Drug Free Schools, was launched by the former Archbishop, Stanley Ntagali, at Mengo Senior School.

Ntagali said drug abuse among young people in schools was on rise, which was why the Church had decided to act against the vice.

The school enforces a high level of discipline among its students

Uganda Police Annual reports continue to point to an increase in drug trafficking and substance abuse in Uganda.

Leon Matagi, a psychologist and researcher at Makerere University, recently conducted a study which showed that 21% of the students had ever used or tried some drugs and that the number of students taking drugs had increased with age and class of study.

Matagi also discovered that the percentage of students taking drugs was higher in boarding than in day schools; the rate at which students accessed some drugs and substances was very high, and that “peer pressure was the most important facilitating factor to drug abuse among students.”

Some of the old boys of the prestigious school include former Vice President Gilbert Bukenya, former Deputy Prime Minister, Henry Kajura, Gen Kale Kayihura, businessman Charles Mbire, Prince Kassim Nakibinge, Minister Hilary Onek, Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, buganda premier Peter Mayiga and former Vice President Edward Ssekandi among others.

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