Security officers intervened and fired teargas in an effort to disperse the crowd and restore order. It was during this commotion that Ojok collapsed.
A 17-year-old student has died after collapsing amid chaos triggered by teargas at Kitgum Boma Grounds during a Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) semi-final match.
The deceased, identified as Francis Ojok, was a student at Comprehensive College Main Campus. He was rushed to Kitgum General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
According to police, the incident occurred shortly after Comprehensive College suffered a 1-0 defeat to Rev. Jabulon Isoke Secondary School. The loss reportedly angered a section of students, some of whom attempted to confront opposing players, prompting a tense situation at the venue.
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Security officers intervened and fired teargas in an effort to disperse the crowd and restore order. It was during this commotion that Ojok collapsed.
Aswa East Regional Police spokesperson Joel Oloya stated that the exact cause of death remains unknown. He confirmed that a postmortem examination will be conducted to establish what led to the student’s death.
Oloya added that no other injuries or fatalities were reported during the incident, and investigations into the matter are currently ongoing.
The tragic event has cast a shadow over the tournament, raising concerns about crowd control and safety during school sporting events.
