David Kitungulu, a 50-year-old watchman at Butegere Primary School in Butansi subcounty in Kamuli district, has been arrested for reportedly torturing three pupils on accusations of stealing school firewood.
This follows the viral video of the torture incident showing the suspect flogging the victims this week, prompting the police to open a general inquiry file vide GEF 23/2024.
The incident occurred at Butegere Primary School, Butansi subcounty in Kamuli district. The tortured juveniles whose names were not identified are aged 10, 12, and 13 years.
Preliminary investigations suggest that on Wednesday June 19, 2024 at around 08:00 pm, a teacher at Butegere Primary School identified as Isaac allegedly found three juveniles stealing school fire wood and confiscated the bicycle that they were using to carry the firewood.
According to ASP Micheal Kasadha, the Busoga North Police publicist, the teacher called for their mother, from whom he demanded Shs.100,000 in order to have the bicycle released.
At that time, she managed to give out Ug Shs 30,000 before getting the bicycle and agreed to pay shs.70,000, which was to be given to him later.
On June 20, 2024 at around 06:30 pm, the school watchman and uncle to the victims picked the victims from home accusing them of having committed a crime at school and that he wanted to take them back to school.
“Upon reaching the school, Katungulu got hold of a stick and started flogging the victims heavily in the presence of the Headteacher as a way of punishment them,” said Kasadha.
“In the process, a concerned teacher whose particulars we are yet to establish was filming the torture incident on top of pleading with the watchman to stop the act,” he added.
The video of the torture incident has been circulating on social media, leading to the arrest of the suspect. Kasadha, in his statement, noted that the victims have been examined pending further investigations.
“We commend the teacher and other members of the public who were concerned about the incident and their active participation that saw the perpetrator apprehended,” he stated.
