Mwiri Primary School in Jinja District is under fire after a P5 Science teacher allegedly assaulted a P7 candidate few months to the start of this year’s PLE exams, leaving the 13-year-old boy injured and traumatized.
The incident has reignited debate over corporal punishment, child protection, and school accountability in Uganda’s education system.
How The Assault Happened.
Flawless reports indicate that Mr. Bernard Kisengesa, who teaches Science in P5, attacked the boy after a small stone accidentally hit the teacher’s elbow.
Witnesses say the usually quiet pupil was playing by tossing a stone up and down when it slipped and landed on Mr. Kisengesa.
“After confirming it was the boy, the teacher landed slaps and blows on him. The boy fell down crying and pleading for mercy,” a teacher who witnessed the incident said.
The teacher allegedly became more enraged and grabbed a stick from fellow teacher Mr. Samuel Isabirye and continued beating the pupil.
It took the intervention of other teachers who “wrestled with the lion-looking teacher” to rescue the boy.
Alleged Cover-Up And Delayed Response.
Teachers say the matter was reported to Headteacher Mr. Ronald Mwanga, but no immediate action was taken.
“The headteacher opted to sweep the matter under the carpet fearing it would stain the image of the school at this era of social media,” a source alleged.
It was 48 hours later that a concerned teacher contacted the boy’s father, Mr. Joseph Walugambire, 48, who rushed to the school to find his son in pain.
Police Case Opened.
The matter was reported at Kakira Police Station vide CRB 40/17/07/2026 as Assault.
The father was issued Police Form 3 (PF3), the official medical examination report used by Uganda Police to document injuries for court evidence. The boy is receiving treatment at a government health facility.
When contacted, Headteacher Ronald Mwanga confirmed the incident, calling it “unfortunate for a trained teacher to flout the relevant laws, regulations and professional code of conduct.”
“The first thing for us was to ensure the boy gets proper medical treatment and is out of danger. Then administrative and disciplinary measures will follow,” Mwanga said.
He added that the School Management Committee and Disciplinary Team will be convened to start proceedings against the errant teacher.
The Law: Corporal Punishment Is Illegal.
Uganda outlawed corporal punishment in schools over a decade ago. Legal experts say Mr. Kisengesa’s actions contravene several laws and policies.
Under Section 7 of the Children Act Cap 59, every child is entitled to protection from physical, emotional and mental abuse. The Constitution of Uganda, Article 34(2) also guarantees every child respect for dignity and protection from abuse.
The Penal Code Act Cap 120 provides that any person who unlawfully assaults another commits the offence of common assault, punishable by up to one year in prison or a fine. If the PF3 medical report shows grievous harm, the charge can be elevated to grievous harm under Section 224, which carries a penalty of up to seven years imprisonment.
Beyond criminal law, the Education Act 2008 and the Teachers Code of Conduct 2012 require teachers to protect learners and use positive discipline. Breach of the code can lead to interdiction, dismissal and deregistration by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
The Ministry further reinforced the ban through Circular No. 6 of 2016, which directed all schools to abolish corporal punishment and instead use guidance, counseling and positive discipline methods.
Because the victim is a minor and a PLE candidate, prosecutors may treat this as an aggravated case.
School And Community Reaction.
Fellow teachers accused Mr. Kisengesa of acting “recklessly and unethically.” Parents in the area have called for swift action, saying “PLE candidates should be protected, not beaten.”
Child rights activists say the alleged delay by school administration amounts to neglect of duty to report child abuse, which is also punishable under the Children Act.
Wider Context: Rising Cases Of Child Abuse.
The Mwiri case comes amid a worrying rise in child abuse cases across Uganda.
A few months ago, on 2 April 2026, Christopher Okello Onyum, 38, a Ugandan-American man, stormed the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre in Kampala and fatally stabbed four toddlers aged 15 months to 2.5 years — Gideon Eteku, Keisha Agenorwoth Otim, Ignatius Sseruyange and Ryan Odeke. Prosecutors told court he believed the “human sacrifice” would make him rich. On 30 April 2026 the High Court sentenced him to death by hanging after rejecting his insanity defense. He has since appealed the conviction.
Last Thursday, 24 children from King David Junior School, Ndejje Makindye perished in a fatal accident in Kapchorwa while on a study tour.
The Ministry of Gender and Ministry of Education have repeatedly warned that schools must be safe spaces and that any form of violence against children will be prosecuted.
What Happens Next.
Police say investigations are ongoing and they are awaiting the PF3 medical report to determine the final charges. The school disciplinary committee is expected to sit next week, while the District Education Officer Jinja is expected to visit the school.
The boy is receiving medical care, and counselors have recommended psychosocial support ahead of PLE.
