the Humanist view

Hypocrisy at its best.

“If a student is pregnant, she is expelled. Teachers say these expulsions prevent school-year disruptions. “We ask the girl to go home until her life is sorted, and we advise her to change school for stigma from her peers, and also she is not a good example to the rest of the girls,” says Winfred Ogwok, a teacher responsible for addressing girls’ issues at her school in Kampala.” Edna Namara

Teacher Winfred, did the student get pregnant on her own?

How certain are you, Teacher Winfred that he who made her pregnant is not a connected to your school and among the staff at the school, for example?

If he who made her pregnant is connected to your school do your similarly send him away?

Do you ask him too to change school for stigma from his peers?

Do you condemn him as not a good example for the rest of the boys?

I hear you say my questions are unrealistic and way off base. If you think so, here is a reminder. At the time of his death, there were allegations leveled against Profession Mukiibi thus:

“He used his position to engage in sexual affairs with his own female students. Many people were shocked by Professor Mukiibi’s act of fathering more than 50 children, whereby most of them were as a result of ‘preying’ on some of his students. During his burial ceremony, over 20 young pregnant girls (probably old girls of St Lawrence Schools) were shut out of the ceremony due to the embarrassment to the Mukiibi family. Going by the various reports, including the children who were paraded at his burial, prima facie, these allegations are believable.” Sylvia Namubiru Mukasa

We must detoxify and decolonize our minds.

We must demand protection for our girls, and this includes originating and passing legislation that will deter the likes of Professor Mukiibi; while at the same time ensuring the victim’s education is not interrupted.