A police constable attached to Kasese Central Police Station in Kasese district is accused of defiling and impregnating a 16-year-old girl.
The victim has been staying at Kasese Central Police Station for over two years under the Child, Family and Protection Unit (CFPU) having failed to locate her home.
The suspect is said to have taken advantage of the girl’s helplessness to lure her into sex.
The victim has hearing and speech impairments. The case has raised anxiety among persons with disabilities in Kasese.
Police say a case file Ref. Kasese – CRB – 334/2018 has been opened to investigate the case.
Ms Zawadi Nakubulwa, Project Assistant at Kasese District Union of Persons with Disabilities, (KADUPEDI) blamed police for not only failing to protect the rights of the victim but also abusing her sexually.
“Many of our persons with disabilities have been victims and police has not done much to help us. This police officer took advantage of the girl’s helplessness to abuse her rights instead of protecting her,” Nakubulwa said.
Nakubulwa said the police seem not to be bothered with expediting investigations to bring the suspect to book and offer justice to the victim. There are allegations that the suspect has been left to go free.
“This person must be taken to court; we are working with other networks and our PWDs (People With Disabilities) lawyer,” she added.
Mr Stephenia Kimugha, the officer in charge of Child and Family Protection Unit at Kasese central police station, also apportioned blame on KADUPEDI for failing to offer refuge to one of their own when she needed their help.
“They took her for three days and saw that they can’t manage, then I thought that should I give her part of my salary. She has been with us since 2016,” Kimugha said.
The Officer in Charge of the Criminal Investigation Department, Mr Peter Tindyebwa declined to comment on the matter saying issues concerning officers are handled by the District Police Commander who is the overall head.
Recently, the Rwenzori east regional commander, Mr Julius Tusingwire Ceaser explained that it is not easy to arrest any of the suspected police officers since the girl can’t clearly identify one but as police they are just waiting for the girl to deliver and then do a medical DNA test.
