The Ministry of Education has transferred over 20 teachers from Kibuli Senior Secondary School in what is seen as an attempt to create a fresh environment at the institution following allegations of sexual abuse of students by some teachers and administrators.
A committee set up by the ministry is currently investigating the allegations, which were brought against the school head teacher, Hajj Ali Mugagga, who was suspended at the start of the year.
A leaked transfer list seen by this website shows some of the transferred teachers as Musasizi Jesca, Nsereko Arthur, Zizinga Eric, Tukahirwa Night, Adongo Evelyn, Lwanga Charles, Kabanda Francis and Nyago Musa. Others are Nantale Jane, Nambooze Harriet, Erau Daniel, Orech Edward, Nyago Musa, Kangaire Silvanus. More teachers are likely to be transferred.
Ministry sources told this website that the transfers are intended to remove the cliques at the school, which are pitting supporters of Hajj Mugagga against others who are alleged to have leaked the sexual abuse allegations to a private investigator, one Leonard Egesa.
Sources at the school further told this website that Hajj Mugagga still retains support of the school board, which has since sued Egesa, accusing him of tarnishing the image of the school. Sources added that the suspended head teacher addressed a staff meeting at the school recently despite being on suspension, which is contrary to the ministry standing orders.
This website has also learnt that some of the victims of the sexual abuse allegations are being threatened not to report to the Police’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Kibuli, which is gathering evidence against Mugagga, in order to have him persecuted in courts of law if found guilty.
While four girls have recorded statements with the CID headquarters, where they were also subjected to medical tests, some have received threatening phone calls, warning them against the move. A mother of one of the victims has told this website that some men attempted to kidnap her from her stall in one of the markets in Kampala as they warned her not to bother recording a statement for her daughter.
A leaked report by the ministry, which was seen by this website last month, recommends that Hajj Mugagga be interdicted to pave way for police investigations and eventual prosecution.
In February State minister for Primary Education Rosemary Seninde warned that Hajj Mugagga’s teaching certificates would be cancelled if he is found guilty.
“The teaching profession has got its own code of ethics, which Mugagga knows very well. Also, if he is found guilty, the parents of the victims have a right to sue him,” she added.
Former students of Kibuli Senior Secondary School have since asked the school management to retire the head teacher over the sexual abuse allegations to protect the image of the school, which they said has been tainted by the allegations.
They also want the school management to adopt a sexual abuse and misconduct policy that all members of staff at the school must adhere to to avoid similar future occurrences.
The school management has since gone to court, demanding that Egesa retracts the allegations which they said are defamatory and meant to tarnish the school image.
