Residents of Nyamiringa village in Bulongo parish, Sembababule district are baying for the blood of George Musheijja Bakulu, the Nyamiringa LCI chairman. They are angry that he was released by police after he was arrested for aggravated defilement.
Bakulu, was arrested on Wednesday last week after being caught red-handed defiling a 15-year-old girl. It is said that Bakulu lured the P.7 pupil into one of the rooms of a local bar where he locked the door and raped her.
When the village heard about it a mob formed around wanted to lynch Bakulu for his act but he escaped into hiding and he later turned himself in, to Ntuusi Police post for safety due to the relentless pursuit by the mob.
The girl was rushed to a health center for a checkup and the report proved she was defiled. The health workers gave her Post-exposure Prophylaxis -PEP, which is recommended for sexual assault victims to prevent HIV transmission.
The constant protests forced Charles Mondo, the Officer In Charge of Ntuusi police post, to transfer Bakulu to Sembabule police station for safety.
Earlier, the Central Police Station of Masaka intervened by taking up the case to quell the protesters.
Bakula’s file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecution for further guidance and the suspect was to appear in court anytime.
However, the residents and family members were shocked to see Bakulu back in the village roaming freely, saying he had no case to answer and allegedly threatening potential witnesses who caught him practically having canal knowledge of the underage girl.
Muhammad Nsubuga, the Southern Regional Police spokesperson, says Bakulu was released on bond as investigations into the case continue. However, Bakulu says the accusations are baselessly meant to tarnish his name as a local leader.
Some angry residents have vowed to take the law in their hands if police decline to re-arrest the suspect and prosecute him. Fortunate Birungi, wants the police to explain why they released Bakulu yet he has been threatening them and other witnesses.
The girl’s future has been ruined and is afraid to go back to school yet she is a finalist supposed to sit her P.7 exams. She has appealed to President Yoweri Museveni, activists and other security authorities to intervene in her case to get justice.
Juma Ssemakula, one of the concerned residents, suspects that the investigating officers received a bribe to compromise the case which tarnishes the police image. He says the suspect is currently roaming freely at the expense of the poor family and the police have not helped to solve their case.
