By Stanley Ebele
Police in Kotido have arrested and detained two male students of Kotido Secondary School (SS) in connection with allegations of defilement.
The arrests comes days after the school authorities on Monday July 7, 2025, expelled nine female students aged between 15 and 16 due to pregnancy.
According to Emmanuel Lokedi, the school head teacher, the nine students all in boarding section were found to be pregnant after the school authorities carried out a periodic compulsory pregnancy test for all female students.
“As a school, we always carry out pregnancy tests for female students when they return from holidays. Recently, we conducted the tests and discovered that nine girls were pregnant,” said Lokedi.
He added that of the nine students, eight were in senior one and two while one was in Senior Six, with the majority being beneficiaries of school and Straight Talk Foundation bursaries.
Lokedi explained that the girls appeared before the school’s disciplinary committee and were subsequently expelled from the school in accordance with the ministry of Education and Sports guidelines which prohibit pregnant students from attending classes.
“For a girl to get pregnant at school is considered indiscipline, and the Ministry of Education and Sports does not tolerate allowing them to continue their studies after becoming pregnant. This is why the school’s disciplinary committee decided to expel eight girls and suspend one girl who is a senior six candidate,” said Lokedi.
Lokedi explained that only a senior six candidate will be allowed to return to sit for her final examinations, in line with education guidelines.
Following the expulsion of the students involved, some of the parents reported the matter to police, leading to the arrest of two students suspected of impregnating some of the girls.
Hussein Ssekalema, the Kotido District Police Commander (DPC) said that the students whose particulars have been withheld for because they are minors, are currently in custody at Kotido Central Police Station as investigations in to the matter continue.
According to Ssekalema, one suspects is accused of allegedly impregnating two girls out of the nine.
He noted that their files have been sent to the Resident State Attorney (RSA) for sanctioning and the suspects will soon be arraigned in court to answer charges of defilement.
Despite the arrests and expulsions, Lokedi has refuted reports that the girls were impregnated by the school boys, noting that the girls likely became pregnant while at home with their parents for first term holidays.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, sources indicate that the recent tests were prompted by an incident where one of the girls reportedly had an abortion and disposed of the fetus in a school latrine.
This incident follows a similar occurrence last year, where eight girls were suspended for pregnancy in July, sparking concerns over laxity in the school’s security and lack of supervision of students while at school.
The widespread issue of teenage pregnancies among school-going girls has drawn criticism from community leaders.
John Bosco Akore, the Secretary of the Kotido District Cultural Elders’ Council, expressed concern over high prevalence rates of teenage pregnancies, attributing it to parental laxity in educating children about the dangers of early sexual activity and moral discipline.
“The laxity by parents and failure to sensitize children about the dangers of engaging in sexual activity is leading to an increase in teenage pregnancy in Kotido district and the entire Karamoja sub-region” said Akore.
According to Akore, parents have failed to guide their children and prove to them that teenage pregnancies can ruin their future leaving the burden to teachers, who also pay less attention to such non-academic programs.
He underscored that for the parents take up their mandate to inculcate morals and cultural values to the children while at home by developing a relationship which allows their children the freedom to discuss issues affecting them.
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