By KT Reporter
Parents of the boy who was allegedly sodomized from Child Jesus primary school in Moroto municipality are seeking protection following threats from the church and community members. In July, the nun who heads the catholic church founded school, and the warden was arrested in connection with the sodomy incident at the school.
The suspects were apprehended after the 14-year-old victim and his mother reported the case to the police. Later, the high court released the deputy head teacher on court bail while the head teacher and the prime suspect are remanded to Singila prison in Moroto up to August 28th, 2025, when they will return to the court for mention of the matter.
However, instead of receiving support, the victim’s family is now facing backlash from the church members and a section of the community who claim that exposing the matter is tarnishing the reputation of the school and the catholic church. Simon Peter Litomo, the father of the victim, said that the head teacher warned the boy not to share the story with anyone and restricted him from getting out of school.
He recalled that the twin brother of the survivor had been the only one who could go home to get some basic needs, while the victim was kept at school with limited interactions with the family. Lotimo noted that the survivor later managed to sneak out, and he found the opportunity to reveal to his mother his ordeal.
The boy testified that the dormitory warden had been sodomizing him and other pupils several times. The victim further revealed that the last act performed on him was during the first term holiday teaching program, and he was secretly taken to Moroto regional referral hospital for treatment without informing his parents after he developed some health complications.
Lotimo said that they were shocked to learn about the incident and even observed that the health of the boy was deteriorating as he presented with frequent diarrhea, shuffling, and isolation. Lotimo said that the boy is currently receiving treatment from the private health facility, and the review shall be done after one month from now.
Lotimo said that the incident has disorganized the entire family, as the mother and the victim are in great pain and trauma. He said that the mother has attempted suicide several times to end her life and that of the victim because of the backlash from the community and church members.
Lotimo stressed that his family is being accused by the community of promoting homosexuality, an act that is perceived as evil and a curse in the Karamojong society. He said that they can no longer move freely and associate with other community members because they are treated as witches. Lotimo said that one of the nuns from the church warned the mother to go slow on the matter, claiming that if the act was performed four times and the boy was quiet, it indicates that he loved it. He called for the protection of his family because they are living in depression, and they no longer behave at home as they used to because of the insults from society.
Alice Atimango, the mother of the survivor, says that her family is torn apart, and the church has not shown any interest in intervening in the matter. Atimango said that the church management is accusing her of exposing the matter and causing the arrest of the nun over what they described as minor issues.
She noted that the issue has become a personal fight between her and the church, yet she is seeking justice for her son. She said that the community has also turned against her by abusing her family and describing her with all sorts of insulting names.
Adrhis Lamster Oyang, a member of the school board, warned that they cannot condone any act of criminality that goes against the laws of the country, and especially the act of sodomy. Oyang stated that the school stands for the values of the catholic church, and if the suspect is found to be guilty, his act shall not be condoned. He said that the investigation is ongoing and they are waiting for the conclusion on the matter to guide them on the next course of action.
Lucy Akajo, the Karamoja regional coordinator for Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU), acknowledged that she had a private interaction with the survivor in their home, and he confessed to being abused by his warden. Akajo said that he openly narrated his ordeal and the frustration he underwent even after reporting the matter to the school management.
Akajo observed that the survivor revealed that he reported the matter to the head teacher, who later quashed his concerns and advised him to relax because he is not the only one. Akajo expressed her concerns over the high level of negligence by the head teacher, who did not pay attention to the problem that was affecting the learner.
Justine Samuel Tuko, the acting Moroto Resident District Commissioner, confirmed that they swung into action and arrested the school head teacher, deputy head teacher, and the dormitory warden, who is the prime suspect. Tuko said that children testified that the prime suspect has been using incentives such as money, sweets, and bread to lure them into the act.
He said that other pupils were alleging that their warden could sometimes leave his bed and go to share with them since they are all in the one dormitory. Tuko noted that the deputy head teacher was later released after he revealed that he had reported the matter to his boss, and no action was taken. Tuko said that they received another list of victims, and it was established that all the survivors have been reporting the matter to the deputy head teacher.
Tuko said that they have been monitoring the status of the survivor and providing Psychological support for the family. He noted that the entire family is traumatized, and they are trying everything possible to restore hope in the family. He said that the survivors now need to be transferred to another school because they are uncomfortable studying in the same school.
On Monday, a team from the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity, under the office of the president, engaged the Moroto district security committee following reports of the case being frustrated by certain individuals. Nickolas Abola, the Commissioner of Information and Communications at the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity, under the president’s office, said that their preliminary findings indicate that the act of sodomy and molestation took place.
Abola urged the authorities in the Moroto district to protect the family of the survivor against any possible harm, especially suicidal, due to depression. He warned that the case is likely to escalate into insecurity if it’s not handled well. He said that the child and the mother need proper counseling urgently, as they still wait for the court to do justice in the case. Abola also directed that the security committee summon the bishop to write his statement if he continued threatening the family of the survivor.
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