Last week, the internet was awash with photos and video clips of a male student who arrived in a helicopter for the Prom party at the Entebbe-based school.
Minister of State for Higher Education John Chrysostom Muyingo has expressed displeasure at the recent display of extravagance by students at Élite High School in Entebbe, which caught public attention.
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The student, together with his female partner (names withheld) was filmed disembarking from the chopper, chattered from Bar Aviation.
They then proceeded to hitch a ride in a high-end SUV to the Prom venue.
Minister Muyingo while commenting on the incident which went viral online, said such extravagance was unwarranted at a time when the country is grappling with limited resources.
"Are these things happening in Uganda? Where are we going?” remarked the minister.
“Money is a scarce resource; it shouldn't be given out and spent like that.”
The Minister according to the Daily Monitor, also wants Elite High School to be investigated over the incident.
It is reported that the Helicopter was hired at a cost of USD 1200 (about Shs 4.5 million), while the car was hired for 6 hours at Shs 3 million.
Other unconfirmed reports indicated that the parents of the male students were present at the Prom function.
Extravagant Prom functions have been taking root and getting bigger in Ugandan schools over the past few years.
This same weekend, Minister Muyingo’s Seeta High School had its own Prom which was also characterized by students arriving in expensive vehicles for a red-carpet and dinner event.