By KT Reporter
Local leaders and parents in Lwengo District are demanding a public court hearing for a headteacher accused of raping and sodomizing pupils at a primary school, saying an open trial would help restore community confidence and serve as a warning to potential offenders.
The suspect, Hetman Jjingo, the headteacher of Miracle Infant Junior School in Katovu Town Council, was arrested on Tuesday over allegations of sexually abusing four pupils aged between six and ten years. According to Twaha Kasirye, the arrest followed a tip-off from one of the parents after a medical examination reportedly confirmed abuse against one of the minors.
Police say investigations later revealed that three other pupils from the same school had allegedly suffered similar abuse from the suspect. Kasirye said the children reported that the headteacher allegedly lured them with money before threatening them to keep silent.
He added that the suspect, currently detained at Lwengo Central Police Station, allegedly admitted to the offences involving two girls and two boys in Primary Three and Primary Four. The allegations have triggered anger and fear within the community, with parents now demanding a fast-tracked public hearing.
Joyce Nantume, one of the affected parents, said residents fear the suspect could spend a long time on remand, delaying justice for the victims. She said the community remains deeply disturbed by the allegations and believes a public hearing conducted near the scene would help reassure residents and deter similar crimes.
Katovu Cell LC1 Chairperson Eliasha Ssebandeke described the allegations and reported confessions as shocking. He called for severe punishment, arguing that repeated cases of sexual abuse against children in the district require stronger action. Ssebandeke said an open court session would not only deliver justice but also raise awareness and help protect other children from abuse.
Ibrahim Kitatta, the Lwengo LC V Chairperson, said district leaders intend to engage the judiciary to ensure the case is handled expeditiously. He condemned the suspect for allegedly betraying the trust placed in him by his parents. “Children were entrusted to his care, but instead they were violated,” Kitatta said.
The School Director, Imelda Nayiga, said she was shocked by the allegations against the headteacher, saying his conduct was unexpected. She pledged cooperation with investigators to ensure justice for the victims and accountability through the courts. Police say investigations are nearing completion and that the suspect will be formally charged once inquiries are finalized.
The incident has revived concerns over sexual violence against children in the greater Masaka sub-region. In March last year, the judiciary, with support from the Australian Development Agency, launched the Justice4Her campaign at the Masaka High Court to improve access to justice for survivors of gender-based violence. At the time, Lwengo was identified as one of the areas most affected by sexual violence cases in the greater Masaka sub-region.
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