Makerere lecturer arrested over rape

A 58-year old lecturer in the faculty of Natural Sciences has been detained on allegations that he raped a first year female student, who was residing in his garage. The lecturer (name withheld) denied the allegations, but detectives detained him at Wandegeya Police Station as investigations continue.

Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesman Patrick Onyango said the rape file against the lecturer is complete and it will be submitted to the Resident State Attorney Monday morning.

“After the student reported to our officers, we examined her. The police surgeon confirmed that she had been raped and there were marks on her body that she could have struggled with the attacker,” Mr Onyango said.

Police say the female student has been given post-exposure prophylaxis drugs to stop her exposure to HIV in case her attacker was HIV-positive. Rape attracts a death sentence on conviction of the offender. According to a police report, the female student came into contact with the lecturer through her sister, who used to stay with the same lecturer.

“The victim used to stay with her elder sister, a former Makerere University student, in the same garage. The elder sister completed university and left. Later the victim joined university and rented in (the area northeast of the university popularly known as Kikumi kikumi, for its affordable meals),” Mr Onyango said.
A friend of the victim’s elder sister, approached her and told her that the lecturer’s garage, which her elder sister used to reside in, is still vacant. The victim was told that she would save money she is spending on rent if she talks to the lecturer to allow her occupy it.

“The victim talked to the lecturer and he accepted. The victim shifted to the garage,” he said.
Early last week, the victim told police that she returned home tired and she went straight to her bed without locking the door. She said the lecturer used that opportunity to access the garage and raped her.

Police said she informed a friend who advised her to go for a test. Police recorded both their statements before summoning the lecturer on Friday. “After recording his statement, detectives chose to detain him to enable us carry out medical examinations on him,” Mr Onyango said.

The Monitor

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