By Andrew Cohen Amvesi
PAKWACH
The territorial police of Pakwach district are investigating an allegation of indecent assault of a lady in a night bus traveling from Kampala to Arua City.
Police said the unfortunate incident occurred in a Nile Star bus with registration number UBF 691T on 8th June 2024 at about 8:00 pm.
Josephine Angucia, the North Western police spokesperson identified the suspect who is now under police custody at Pakwach police station as Ivan Mungungeyo, 31, a resident of Wampewo Kasawe Zone, Kasangati Town Council, in Wakiso district.
“It so happened that on 08th June 2024 at about 8:00 pm, the victim one Jurua Judith Tracy female adult aged 21 years, a Madi by tribe and a University Student, resident of Ediofe Area in Arua City boarded Nile Star bus registration number UBF 691T which was travelling from Kampala to Arua. She was assigned seat number 21. The female victim at first sat next to a certain lady, reaching Luweero, the lady came out of the bus,” Angucia said.
She added that: “The vacant seat was then assigned to another male passenger by the names Mungungeyo Ivan, male adult, aged 31 years, an Alur by tribe a social worker and resident of Wampewo Kasawe Zone, Kasangati Town Council, in Wakiso district.”
Angucia said as the bus was in motion, the male passenger allegedly started touching the female victim’s thigh but she removed his hand away.
“Again, the suspect allegedly removed his male organ (penis) and rubbed it on the victim’s sweater, which annoyed her and she made an alarm in the bus. This allegedly happened around Kichobonyobo village in Masindi district,” Angucia narrated.
However, the PRO said the victim left her seat and went in front to sit on the conductors’ seat when the bus had stopped for a while in Masindi as the conductors went outside.
“The victim later followed the conductors outside where they were resting on a mat and she narrated to them what her male seatmate allegedly did to her in the bus. They questioned the suspect but then he denied the allegation, he instead said that he forgot to zip his trouser and that’s why his penis was out of the cloth,” Angucia remarked.
She said thereafter, the victim was given another seat as the journey continued up to Pakwach Police Station where the matter was reported.
According to Angucia, a case of Indecent Assault was accordingly opened at Pakwach police station and statements were recorded from the complainant and other relevant witnesses.
Angucia said the suspect was immediately detained at Pakwach Police Station pending investigations into the matter under Pakwach CRB 223/2024.
“As inquiries continue, we appreciate the female victim and the bus management for their vigilance on such a matter and not tolerating such indecent behavior in the bus by reporting it to police for investigations and proper management. This acts as a lesson to all travelers to respect their seatmates in buses and avoid touching or leaning on them indecently while traveling, or else they will be charged with Indecent Assault and prosecuted before the courts of law,” Angucia warned
