PMM Girls breaks silence on alleged lesbianism in school

JINJA, UGANDA: After a week filled with controversy and reports of alleged lesbianism among female students and their teachers, the management of PMM Girls’ School has finally spoken out on the vice and culprits involved.

Ms Grace Akwango, the head teacher said the school convened an emergency meeting after rumours started circulating that her deputy, Ms Lydia Mukodha was promoting lesbian acts among female students.

The epitome of the allegations came true when furious parents stormed the school demanding the apprehension of the suspected teacher, and on March 3, police handcuffed Ms Mukodha, together with her alleged partner, Ms Martha Naigaga, 30, a businesswoman in the same locality.

The duo were later remanded to Kirinya Prison on charges of gross indecency, and procurement of gross indecency, and are expected to reappear in Court on Tuesday next week.

Speaking of the saga that marred social media and the country since the beginning of this month, Ms Akwango, who was just deployed at the government-aided school this year, said she has never dreamt of facing such a challenge in her life.

“I have received calls from my supervisors, former staff members, and mentors, hoping that I will handle the situation well. I told them: ‘With God, I will’,’’ said Ms Akwango.

She says despite any allegations that Ms Mukhoda was recruiting girls into the vice, Police have failed to get any of her alleged lovers among the female students.

Ms Akwango further told this publication that her deputy’s issue is being handled at the national level and that she has written to the Education Ministry, who will make the final decision after her conviction.

“I was told to write a report on the issue, which I handed over to the Commissioner of Secondary Education, while the teacher was handed over to the police. It is no longer our issue as we are waiting for a police report and in case of anything, we are going to be advised by the Ministry of Education on what to do after she has been released,’’ she said.

Parents Speak out

Ms Sarah Namukose, one of the parents, said the alleged lesbian teacher should not return to school, whether guilty or not.

Another parent, Ms Hellen Chandiru, who has a child in Senior Six said day scholars are currently stigmatized because of the alleged lesbianism at the school. “I was on the street walking, then one of the students passed near a boda boda stage and the riders abused her,’’ she said.

During the meeting, Mr Peter Nkurunziza, another parent, testified that he discovered that one of his children at the school is a lesbian.

The Bishop of Central Busoga Diocese, the Rt Rev Patrick Wakula, who was in attendance, advised the school management to install closed-circuit television cameras to overcome the vice.