Muslim school sparks debate after students in hijab carry cross

By Bakari Ssettumba

Victoria High School in Iganga found itself at the centre of a heated online debate after a video surfaced on TikTok showing female students wearing full Muslim hijabs while participating in a Christian “Way of the Cross” procession.

The video, posted on the school’s official TikTok account on Friday, quickly went viral, drawing mixed reactions from social media users. While some defended the students’ right to practice their faith, others criticized the school for allowing the hijab—a sacred Islamic garment—to be worn during a Christian ritual.

The controversy stemmed from conflicting interpretations of the video. Some TikTok users claimed the students were Muslims forced to carry the cross, while others clarified that they were Christian students adhering to the school’s uniform policy.

“Those are Catholic students in a Muslim-founded school. They must follow the dress code regardless of the activity,” one user commented.

Others argued that the students should have removed their hijabs before participating in the Christian event, stating that the combination of religious symbols was inappropriate.

In response to the backlash, Victoria High School’s head teacher, Mugerwa Rasul, issued a statement explaining the situation.

“The students in the video were all Christians. As a school founded on Islamic principles, our dress code requires all female students to wear the hijab. On Good Friday, these students participated in the Way of the Cross while in their school uniforms,” he said.

He emphasized that the school respects all faiths and did not intend to offend Muslim sensibilities.

“Victoria High School management did not mean to disrespect the Islamic faith, and we ask for forgiveness from the public. While we teach Islamic theology, we also accommodate students from other religions,” he added.

Despite the school’s clarification, the video was later deleted—though not before sparking widespread discussion.

On platforms like WhatsApp and Twitter, some Muslim users expressed frustration, arguing that the incident undermined the religious significance of the hijab.

“The act making of students wearing the hijjab to lead the way of the cross oozed of extreme disrespect to Islam and Muslims,” one critic remarked, adding “the act constituted a misrepresentation of the Islamic hijjab as an ordinary garment, which it isn’t. We wear the hijjabas an act of faith, worship and obedience to Allah.”

The incident has reignited discussions about how schools with religious affiliations should balance their policies with the diverse beliefs of their students.

While some argue that schools should enforce uniform policies uniformly, others believe religious attire should be respected in context—especially during faith-specific activities.