A YOUNG Grade 12 pupil of Lukulu Day Secondary School has abandoned calculators and algebra to make quick bucks through a maize theft enterprise by stealing 35 bags of maize meant for the school feeding programme.
According to authorities, the 18 year old pupil managed to cart away all 35 bags before his luck ran out.
On Thursday evening, teachers secured the storeroom and placed the keys safely in the headteacher’s office, following standard procedures.
But sometime between 06:00 and 10:00 hours on Friday, the pupil, who may struggle with numbers in class but clearly understands the weight of 50kg maize bags, broke into the storeroom and helped himself to the maize.
However, the ‘maize mission’ began to collapse when a teacher, spotted two men loading a bag of maize onto a motorbike near the school kitchen.
Startled by the approach of the teacher, the duo reportedly panicked and scattered in different directions, abandoning their maize business mid-operation.
Moments later, another man identified as Lubasi Kakanda, 29, arrived pushing a wheelbarrow to collect the abandoned bags.
When questioned, Kakanda admitted that he had been hired by the pupil to help transport the maize.
Teachers quickly mobilised pupils nearby and together they apprehended Kakanda on the spot.
Five bags of maize valued at K2,500 were recovered about seven metres from the storeroom.
Kakanda then led teachers to the locations of the mastermind pupil and a motorbike rider identified as Fred Kapalu, who were subsequently handed over to police.
Western Province Commanding Officer Rae Hamoonga confirmed the incident revealing that the matter was reported to Lukulu Police Station yesterday around 14:00 hours after teachers discovered that the school storeroom had been broken into earlier in the morning.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the school storeroom was broken into and thirty-five 50kg bags of maize meant for the school feeding programme were stolen,” Hamoonga said.
Hamoonga added that investigations are ongoing to recover the remaining 30 missing bags.
Hamoonga also warned the public against engaging in criminal activities, particularly those targeting resources meant to support vulnerable learners under school feeding programmes.
By Haggai Hamunyemba
Kalemba March 15, 2026
