Ugandan Police in Kakiika, Mbarara district have arrested over 100 parents who refused to take their children to school.
The parents claimed that this was because their religion forbids identification of persons with a number.
Early this year, the Government introduced the Personal Identification Number (PIN) in order to track the enrollment of students in primary and secondary schools
In the one-week operation that climaxed on Friday, the Police also rounded up 150 idle children, some of whom were picked up from bars and video clubs after absconding from school.
The officer in charge of Kakiika sub-county Police, Milton Nkwatsibwe, said the parents were picked from their homes and farms.
Kakiika sub-county LC3 chairman Benon Mugume said the operation conducted by the Police, political and civic leaders followed an outcry by head teachers that so many pupils had dropped out of school.
David Beinomugisha, a father of five, vowed to keep his children at home unless the system of pin numbers is stopped.
“Even if you arrest or kill me, I know when I die in prison for this cause, I go to heaven. I will not take back my children to school unless you stop giving them pin numbers because the numbers are for demons,” he said.
He claimed that his faith called Engiri cautions followers against numbers.
“Whoever accepts his child to be given a pin number will not go to heaven,” said Beinomugisha.
A 12-year-old boy (names withheld) who dropped out of P.5 at Rwebishuri Primary school over the same claim, said his parents told him the pin numbers would lead him to hell after death.
“Even if you arrest my parents or kill them, I will not go back to school because I was clearly taught that being in school where they give pin numbers would lead me to hell,” the boy asserted.
Asked whether he could go to schools which do not give out pin numbers, he said: “I now want to be an evangelist because I have seen the right way.”
Cpl. Nkwatsiibwe said the children were released but their parents would be charged with child neglect and abuse of child rights, which could earn them a jail term of 12 weeks.
Mbarara district education officer Edward Mbabazi said every child is entitled to basic education. He said pin numbers had nothing to do with religion and were introduced by the Government to identify the number of students in schools.
Thats rubbish, ban that religion or better still enlighten them on the importance of statistics.
Dark continent indeed!
Iye.
respect other peoples beliefs. some people left the Anglican church because they have homosexual preists, they are not from the dark continent neither did the government ban the Anglican church for practising homosexuality which according to the bible is the real abomination. think both ways simple minded zambians. dont rush to post comments without thinking through.
The PIN code is 666, The Mark of the Beast prophesied in Revelation. Whoever gets numbered bows to the Beast, this prophesy can be read in Revelation 13 and 14. No joke.
Nibe Chale…Do you expect us to believe what your religion says? 2000 years ago and still waiting for a blonde hair, blue eyed god. Where is your common sense?
Coronation of English Sovereigns – Edward II, The Martyr’ … Pavilion Aldershot’, ‘Coronation Guest – King Lewanika of Barotseland’ Chitimukulu was busy defacating in the bush!.
#6 Biggie, I don’t have a blond hair, blue eyed god if that’s what you think I believe in. I have never waited 2000 yrs either, but it is He that brought me forth out of my mother’s bowels and found me when I once was lost. Remember, the fish needs the water in order to survive and not the other way around.
And #7 KINA, Coronation of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, The Saviour, all kings of the earth will be there to witness the new Jerusalem, Edward, Lewanika and Chitimukulu too. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth…
I would like to apologise to my fellow Zambian’s the bemba’s.