German national named in another sex scandal

The Police in collaboration with other security agencies are hunting for a 70-year-old German national, Bernhard Bery Glaser in fresh allegations of defilement and child sex tourism.

On Sunday, a team from Directorate of Criminal Investigations (CID) led by Rosemary Nalubega, raided Glaser's home at Mwena village in Kalangala town council to arrest him, but he wasn't home when they went there.

At least 15 children between five and 20 years were found in the house during the raid. Detectives immediately arrested his wife Ingrid Hehns for questioning.

The children were also taken to the Special Investigations Unit- Kireka to aid the ongoing investigation.

A detective in the operation, who preferred anonymity, revealed that they collected several recorded sex tapes and other sex tools and erotic material.

Glaser's home serves as a rehabilitation centre called Ssese Humanitarian Services & Bery's place.

The home, located in Mwena village, on Bugala Island accommodates children mainly survivors of sexual violence and those at risk of child abuse. These are  between the ages of 3  to  22 years.

It is said that community members have for long complained about Glaser's operations, prompting a whistle blower to file a complaint at CID headquarters.

Lameck Kigozi, the Masaka Regional Police spokesperson, confirmed the operation. He says the case is still sensitive and details will be divulged at the right time.

Detectives at Kalangala Police Station suspect that an insider had tipped Glaser to flee.

One of the girls for now believed to be a victim of sexual abuse, told detectives that Glaser would seduce them to have sex in one of the rooms promising to support their education.

She added  that whoever refused to sleep with him or resisted his sexual advances would be thrown out of the house. She explained that the wife knew about it, but would not stop him at anytime.

It is said that on different occasions Glaser would invite his colleagues from different countries to have sex with the girls while they film the action.

Willy Nkumbi, the Kalangala district probation officer said Glaser's organisation has been operating illegally without a registration certificate.

This becomes the second time Glaser is accused of child molestation and defilement. In December 2013, he was arrested and arraigned in High Court in Masaka over similar allegations. Luckily, he was acquitted due to lack of enough evidence.

 Police van that took the children and Glaser's wife to Kampala.(Photo by Davis Buyondo)

Other incidents

In January 2016, the Police in Kyotera arrested a former United States Marine officer for defiling two minors and illegally operating an orphanage.

Jim Lochead (80), of Brooklyn-New York, was arrested from one of the hideouts in Kalisizo. It is alleged that Lochead had sexual intercourse with the two female orphans of 10 and 16 years at Uganda Rakai Orphans located in Bulinda Village-Kalisizo town council.

The orphanage was being run in a residential home of Alex Kibira without the knowledge of the local council authorities. Lochead conspired with another conman identified as Badru Muzidalifa Ssempeera, who had been arrested and released.

As a result, police took the 10-year-old, who was present at the time, for medical examination at Kalisizo hospital before proceeding to Kalisizo Police Station to record a statement.

Juliet Nazziwa, one of Kibira's neighbours, said that several girls of 12, 14, and 15 years have always complained of indecent sexual behaviour from the said orphanage.

Lochead was later released on bond before he disappeared.

In February 2015, the Magistrates Court in Masaka sentenced  a New Zealand national to five years in prison for attempted defilement and indecent assault.

Emin Baro (53), a tourist and professional teacher, committed the offence between October and November 2011 at Jujajo Guest House in Kitaka zone, Nyendo-Ssenyange division.

Prosecution said Baro, attempted to perform sexual acts with an 11-year-old pupil of Nyendo Public School in Masaka contrary to Section 129(5) and 4(a) of the Penal Code Act.

At first, Police had charged Baro with defilement and indecent assault until when his defence lawyer Lawrence Yawe challenged it.

The charge sheet was later amended and new charges read attempted defilement and indecent assault.