Who will protect our school girls?
Sep 19, 2012
Vincent Bisegerwa arrested by the Police from Wakiso for alleged defilement. Inset, school girls: school children are afraid to report defilement cases
By Simon Masaba and Carol Natukunda
From the statistics on defilement cases, those that are caught are as many if not double the number of those that walk away free
According to a 2008 World Bank funded study, about 10% of upper primary school girls admitted to having sexual relationships. Out of every 10 relationships, four were with teachers. The survey covered 380 schools in 17 districts in Uganda. The survey was done by the International Development Consultants on behalf of the Ministry of Education and funded by the World Bank.
A similar 1994 study of primary school pupils in Uganda found that 11% school girls said they had been forced to have sex with a teacher.
According to the Penal Code, a man who has sexual intercourse with a girl aged below 18 years is guilty of defilement.
In 2010, Sunday Vision broke a story about one Denis Katongole, a teacher at Godfrey Foundation School in Namasuba, Makindye, who was found defiling his pupil. Initially, Katongole was a darling of the administration.
He was hailed as the teacher who would turn around grades in science subjects. He befriended his pupils so much that they interacted freely with him.
However, after some time, girls started alleging that Katongole was sexually assaulting them.
“I informed him of the reports we had received against him, though he denied them,” the school proprietor,” Godfrey Keya told Sunday Vision in an earlier interview.
According to Keya, Katongole blamed the allegations on some members of staff, accusing them of wanting to soil his reputation. Six months later, in November 2010, the 35-year-old teacher was allegedly caught defiling a pupil and handed over to the Police. The alleged victim, an upper primary girl, was quizzed, but she first denied any sexual relations with Katongole.
“When we threatened to take her to the Police, she said the teacher had defiled her, but requested us not to inform her parents,” Keya told Sunday Vision.
Why the vice persists
Wagwa Lubega, the Iganga resident district commissioner blames parents for frustrating the prosecution of defilement suspects, by deciding to settle cases out of court.
Lubega says some parents choose to withhold information on defilement cases, usually after receiving money from the culprits.
“What is important is not the money you get, but the future of your daughter who has been defiled. It is your duty to protect your child and defend their dignity,” he says.
Child rights activists cite slow investigations as a problem with child abuse cases, which frustrates many seeking justice and discourages people from reporting the vice. For instance, out of 7,360 defilement cases reported to the Police in 2009, only 4,433 (60%) were taken to court. However, only 467 (10%) convictions were made, leaving a backlog of 3,966 (90%).
The Police spokesperson Ibin Senkumba however defends the process and blames parents for reporting cases when it is too late. He says others try to shield perpetrators instead of making them face the law. Some children, he says, fear that their teachers will beat them if they speak out.
Critics blame schools who allow students to visit teachers’ quarters. “It is common to find children taking notes to the teacher’s houses or the staff room when during late hours,” says Rev Peter Matovu, a counseling psychologist at Nkumba University.
He also notes that with the current trend, where children leave school late in the name of evening preps, they become easy prey.
“Some parents don’t bother to follow up where the child has been. They get home late, and their parents still send them to the shops to buy commodities,” Matovu says.
In March 2011, the Police in Seeta, Mukono district, arrested a 50-year-old primary school teacher for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old girl. The girl had been sent to buy paraffin at about 7:30pm when the husband of two and father of 12 pounced on her.
What are schools doing to protect children?
Although many schools deny that they have had any defilement cases, they say they have put in place mechanisms to prevent the vice.
At Progressive Junior Academy, near Namugongo, the pupils are not allowed to go to teachers houses. Before hiring a teacher, the school also first checks past records of the teacher in question, especially the previous schools they have taught in.
“Uniforms have petticoats, so their underwear is not seen, and they all wear long dresses and uniforms must not be tight, especially the girls in puberty,” says a teacher who prefers anonymity.
Christine Olanya, a teacher at Montessori School in Entebbe says teacher’s houses are out of bounds. The school has also set aside one hour daily (2:00pm to 3:00pm) for guidance and counseling.
“We let children open up as much as possible. We also make them aware of what defilement is, the dangers, how to tell a potential defiler, and how to guard themselves,” Olanya says.
At Mivule Primary School, Nakawa the school has split up all pupils into groups. Each group normally comprises of four teachers — both male and female. Every Wednesday, each group sits down to talk about all kinds of issues, from home problems, to defilement, to adolescence, among others. “They freely speak out,” says Joyce Obo, the headteacher.
Education state minister John Muyingo warns teachers against the vice saying “the law must take its course for anyone caught.”
“Should the allegations be proven, we will straight away deregister him and scrap him off our payroll. There is no way we can keep such a teacher in service. We do not condone such acts and we will not keep silent on this,” Muyingo says.
Jessica Alupo, the education minister appeals to the public to work closely with the government and inform the authorities about any suspected case of child abuse.
Before you hire a teacher and self help tips
Ensure discipline among teachers. Track their behaviour through previous employers or close associates. Work with LCs, Police to see if they have had a criminal record before.
Girls, never take class books to male teachers’ homes of residence. If a teacher starts giving you free gifts, like sweets or touching you in places you are not comfortable with, report to your parents or the senior woman teacher.
Parents should avoid giving their daughters to male teachers for special coaching.
Ensure that teacher’s quarters are out of bounds to all pupils. Interactions should remain in class and in the day.
Schools must have senior women teachers and matrons who the girls can confide in.
At all times parents should pick the little ones from school to avoid such incidences.
For physical education classes, male teachers should never be instructors for the girls.
“With the current trend where children leave school late in the name of evening preps, they become easy prey”
Rev. Peter Matovu, Counsellor