Iganga Hospital: Man allegedly rapes six, arrested

Sep 22, 2020

It is reported that Kibwika, in the Infirmary Kitchen at Iganga Hospital, raped six girls, the same day and night.

HOSPITAL|RAPE|IGANGA

IGANGA - A 20-year-old woman (name withheld) was caring for her sick mother at Iganga Main Hospital. Before she knew it, a man who she said identified himself as a security guard, asked her to move to the kitchen, to pick a bench.

The woman, a resident of Kasolo village in Bulamagi sub-county, Iganga district, said upon reaching the kitchen, the man she identified as Jafferi Kibwika, reportedly forced her onto the bench and allegedly raped her.

The victim is among the six girls who claim to have been raped by the same person, the same night, at the hospital.

The victims, who were carers for their sick relatives, in a statement to the Police, said Kibwika asked the girls, one at a time, to go to the kitchen, since the carers were many and posed a big COVID-19 risk.

A report by the Police surgeon indicates that there was sexual penetration on all the victims, aged 16 to 20 years. The victim said she was shocked to be told that rape was a common occurence at the facility upon reporting the matter to the security guard at the hospital's main gate.

She was given a dose of PrEP by the hospital management, to prevent her from contracting HIV.

She reported the matter to the Iganga Police Station and the two guards were arrested. The guards helped the Police to arrest Kibwika.

The victims are said to have identified Kibwika as the person who had raped them.

The Iganga District Police Commander, Davis Willy Ndawula, said investigations were ongoing.

Ndawula said the accused would be arraigned in court to answer charges of rape.

The programme officer at the Centre for Health Human Rights Development (CEHURD) Miriam Kyomugisha said they would offer legal services to the victims.

Iganga hospital administrator Ramadhan Mugolofa said security had been stepped up at the facility.

He said preliminary investigations indicated that some of the girls could have consented to sex, saying they were seen by some hospital staff talking to Kibwika near the kitchen at night.

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