Kampala — Victor Hill Secondary School in Kawaala Zone II has been closed over security reasons.

Rubaga deputy resident district commissioner, Zaina Muwonge, closed the school yesterday morning as it opened for the first term.

She ordered all the students who had reported to vacate the school until a row between its founders is resolved. More than 250 students were affected.

Muwonge's decision followed continued wrangling between the school's proprietors, Hajji Karidi Kanatta and his wife Nakatudede over sharing income from the school.

A meeting chaired by Muwonge and attended by Kenneth Muhairwe, the Kawaala Police post boss, Resty Nakayenga Kiguli in charge of land matters in the President's Office, Rogers Mukembo, the school headmaster, Kamadi Mwanjje, the LC1 secretary for information, Kanatta and Nakatudde, failed to resolve the conflict.

"Unless, Kanatta and Nakatudde sort themselves out and make an agreement in writing, this school will not be re-opened. We are trying to avoid incidents similar to that of Buddo Junior School," Muwonge said. 20 pupils died at Buddo when a dormitory was burnt by suspected arsonists.

The students blamed the school authorities and the RDC for failure to notify them before the beginning of the term.

"Why didn't you inform our parents before the end of the year that you were intending to close the school? Where do you expect us to go at this moment?" one student asked.

After the meeting, Kamadi told the press that the couple jointly raised money to construct the school in 2003, but later separated in 2005 over domestic problems.

"The school had become a security threat within the community and the lives of the students were at stake. Last year, there was allegation that some unknown people wanted to burn it, but security foiled their plan," the head teacher said.

In 2007, Kanatta and other family members dragged Nakatudde to court over the matter. Kanatta won the case but was directed to find an alternative place for Nakatudde, who is residing within the school premises, but she declined to relocate to Wobulenzi in Luwero, where Kanatta had offered her land.

Kamadi also said the school did not meet some of the requirements for a boarding section as stipulated by the Ministry of Education.

Nakatudde and her son, Isma Ssenkubuge, allege that Kanatta had connived with the headmaster to throw them out.