Police are investigating the circumstances under which three female trainees at Ikafe Police Training School in Yumbe District were allegedly sexually assaulted by unknown assailants.

Sources at the training school told this publication that on March 4, at around 2 am, an unidentified person illegally accessed the dormitory. A female officer, asleep in the girls’ dormitory, suddenly realised someone had intrudedon her bed. She woke up, but the suspect fled towards the staff quarters after the act. “On the same night, another suspect entered and attempted to attack two other female trainees [names withheld]. When the two realised this, one of them made an alarm, and the suspect ran away towards the staff quarters again,” the source said.

According to one of the victim’s statements recorded at Yumbe Police Station, she could not identify the suspect because there was no power at the time. After the alleged rape, the suspects reportedly fled with her handbag containing cash and two smartphones. North West Regional Police spokesperson Collins Asea confirmed yesterday that the case is being investigated at Yumbe Central Police Station.

Mr. Asea said detectives from Yumbe and Arua visited the scene, introduced police dogs because it had been tampered with, and recovered exhibits, including bedsheets with suspected semen.

“We have taken samples from female trainers and trainees to the forensic laboratory to do the DNA match and establish who could have accessed the girls’ dormitory illegally because it is well fenced,” Mr Asea said.

Growing trend

Cases of rape have been rising steadily across the country. In 2024, police recorded 1,667 cases, up from 1,577 in 2023, an increase of 5.7 percent. By the end of 2024, 690 cases had been taken to court; 11 were dismissed, 22 secured convictions, four were acquitted, while 653 remain pending. In total, 1,667 adult women were victims of rape. Uganda’s Penal Code defines rape as “unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or girl without her consent, if consent is obtained through any force, threat, or intimidation.” The maximum penalty for rape is death.