The police in Kamuli district have arrested a 50-year-old man on allegations of aggravated torture.
The suspect, currently detained at Kamuli Central Police Station, is a school watchman.
The arrest follows the circulation of a viral video showing the suspect flogging three minors. This incident prompted the police to open a general inquiry file under GEF 23/2024.
The suspect has been identified as David Kitungulu, a watchman at Butegere Primary School in Butansi sub-county, Kamuli district.
The victims, aged 10, 12, and 13, are pupils at Butegere Primary School where the incident took place.
Micheal Kasadha, the Busoga North Police spokesperson, stated that according to preliminary investigations, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at around 8:00 pm, a teacher at Butegere Primary School identified as Isaac allegedly found three juveniles stealing school firewood and confiscated the bicycle they were using to carry the firewood.
“The teacher called for the mother of the three children and demanded sh100,000 to release the bicycle,” Kasadha said while speaking to New Vision on Saturday, June 22.
He noted that the mother managed to pay only sh30,000 at the time, with an agreement to pay the remaining sh70,000 later.
However, on June 20, 2024, at around 6:30 pm, the school watchman, who is also the uncle of the victims, picked the children from home, accusing them of having committed a crime at school and insisting on taking them back to the school premises.
Kasadha explained that upon reaching the school, Kitungulu grabbed a stick and started flogging the children heavily in the presence of the headteacher as a form of punishment.
“In the process, a concerned teacher, whose particulars we are yet to establish, filmed the torture incident and pleaded with the watchman to stop the act,” Kasadha noted.
The video of the torture incident has been circulating on social media, leading to the arrest of the suspect.
The victims have been examined, and further investigations are ongoing.
Kasadha said the police commended the teacher and other members of the public who were concerned about the incident and their active participation, which led to the perpetrator’s apprehension.