LIRA CITY | Police in Lira City have arrested a 24-year-old teacher for allegedly sodomising a 10-year old pupil.
The teacher at Answar Mosque located along Kitgum Road in Lira City, was arrested following a complaint by the parents of the victim, a resident of the same area.
It is alleged that the victim, Okello (not real name), accompanied by his friend, visited the suspect’s home and found other children present.
The victim informed the parents that the suspect took them to his bedroom, put on cartoons for them to watch on his phone, and before committing the act.
North Kyoga Region Police spokesperson, SP Patrick Jimmy Okema, confirmed the incident, saying a case of sodomy has been registered and statements obtained from the victim, witness, and the complainant to aid investigations.
“It is alleged that the suspect took the victim and three other children to his bedroom to watch a cartoon on his phone on his mattress,” says Okema.
SP Okema added that “Statements obtained indicate the suspect picked movit smearing oil, lowered the pair of shorts of the victim, and smeared his anus before sodomising him. Preliminary findings further indicate he later gave the victim Shs1000 to share with his friends.”
However, the victim, upon reaching home, started feeling pain in his private part, prompting him to report to his mother.
Okema said the suspect is currently being detained at Lira Central Police Station in Lira City pending further medical examinations and investigations.
“The victim was issued with the necessary police medical forms for further examination. The scene was also visited by the police detectives. We pledge our commitment to seeing that this unfortunate case is handled and concluded before the court of law,” says Okema.
It is not the first time the region has registered a case of unnatural act involving minors. In August 2023, police in Kwania District arrested a 42-year old man Moses Onep, on allegations of sodomizing a 15-year old boy.
The victim told police that the suspect intoxicated him with some substance, but after gaining consciousness, he was feeling a lot of pain around his anus and the suspect was naked and offered him Shs1000.
In March 2023, Parliament criminalised the identities and behaviour of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people in Uganda.
The Anti-Homosexuality Act imposes the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” where same-sex acts involve children or people with disabilities, or where drugs or alcohol may impair judgment.