Clinical lecturer, principal suspended for caning students

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

ISHAKA-The management of Ishaka Adventist Hospital and Health Training Institutions has suspended its lecturer and deputy Principal, for participating in caning undisciplined students in public.

Investigations show that on January 30, 2019, a video showing two students  being beaten by the suspended staff went viral on different social media platforms.

This attracted public attention and criticism against the institution. The video shows two students; Katusiime Atuhaire and Rebecca Mbabazi  being subjected to corporal punishment.

"We would like to categorically disassociate ourselves from the conduct of our staff. We deeply regret the embarrassment the picture trending on social media could have caused to God, the public, parents and the dignity of humanity," says the hospital administrator, Lydia Komugisha.

Katusiime Atuhaire allegedly escaped from school and efforts to trace for her whereabouts had hit a dead end while Rebecca Mbabazi abandoned her night duties that had been allocated to her at around 10:00pm, and decided to spend a night with her male friend inside his dormitory, without seeking permission from her tutor.

Komugisha reveals, on January 17, 2019, Mbabazi was suspended but when she returned back to school she was in accompaniment of her mother.

"The administrators had discussed her matter and resolved that she should be dismissed from school.

However, her mother pleaded so much to have her daughter canned other than dismissing her. The institution has rules and regulations of which canning is not part but the parent insisted on canning her," Komugisha adds.

She adds that the mother started shading tears as she pleaded she was a widow and therefore cannot afford paying school fees for her daughter who is currently being sponsored and cared for by her aunt.

"She begged that she be canned infront of other students so that it serves as a lesson to others," Komugisha further narrates.

She also explains that the institution's management has instituted a committee to carry out independent investigations into the matter while the selected psychologists continue with counselling the affected students.

In additions, Komugisha reveals that it was Atuhaire's father who recommended canning when he turned up at school upon being called by the deputy principal in regard to his disappearance from the institution without prior communication and authorisation.

The management will on Thursday this week meet all the staff purposely to remind them of the institution's rules and regulations and the best ways suitable for disciplining students in case they break any of the rules.

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