A 46-year-old teacher in Kamuli district has been arrested on allegations of defiling a Primary Seven pupil.
The suspect, Waiswa Jonathan, a teacher at Edhirumamwino Primary School in Balawoli Sub-county, was picked up following a tip-off from the school’s senior woman teacher.
Preliminary reports indicate that the pupil, whose identity remains undisclosed because she is a minor had taken food to the teacher’s residence within the staff quarters when the suspect allegedly forced her into a sexual act.
The victim later reported the incident to the senior woman teacher, who raised an alarm and notified authorities at Balawoli Police Station, leading to the suspect’s arrest.
A case of alleged defilement was registered at Balawoli Police Station under SD REF: 17/01. Regional police confirmed that the suspect is currently in custody pending further investigations. He is expected to face charges of defilement.
Uganda is facing a growing number of sexual violence against minors, particularly within trusted environments such as schools and homes. The 2025 annual crime report, indicates that police recorded 10,492 cases of defilement in 2025, representing a 14.8% decline from 12,312 cases reported in 2024. Of these, 7,019 were classified as simple defilement, while 3,473 were aggravated in nature.
The report further shows that the majority of victims were female juveniles (10,328), alongside 128 male juveniles and 37 female adults.
Notably, many of the perpetrators were known to the victims, including teachers, guardians, and parents. The report cites 94 pupils and 23 students abused by teachers, 65 cases involving guardians, and 40 involving parents.
Sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) journalist and advocate Leonard Kamugisha Akida said the figures point to a worrying trend of abuse occurring within trusted spaces.
“This is no longer about strangers. The danger is within our homes, schools, and communities,” he said in a recent interview.
Kamugisha called for a coordinated national response to address the vice, stressing that sexual violence should be treated as a national crisis. He added that progress should not only be measured by declining case numbers but also by improved accountability, enhanced survivor support systems, and a justice system that delivers tangible outcomes.
