SOROTI — Police in Soroti District have arrested a catechist attached to St. Stephen Catholic Church and director of St. Stephen Nursery and Primary School in Ogarai Village, Odudui Parish, Arapai Sub-county, over allegations of defiling a 14-year-old Primary Five pupil.

The suspect, identified as James Odongo, was taken into custody on Tuesday night after he was allegedly found inside his school office with the minor by the girl's father and members of the local community.

According to residents, suspicion had been mounting over what they described as repeated late-night meetings between Odongo and the pupil. Community members said they had observed the suspect entering his office with the girl on several occasions, prompting them to monitor the situation more closely.

On Tuesday evening, residents reportedly saw the girl enter the office at around 6 p.m. and remain there until approximately 9:30 p.m. Her father, Robert Ekibu, together with other community members, then intervened and alerted local authorities.

Ekibu said he had previously received information suggesting that his daughter had been spending time with the suspect outside normal school hours. He recalled an earlier incident in which Odongo allegedly visited his home and spent several hours talking with the girl outside late into the evening.

"When he left, I confronted my daughter about it and warned her never to entertain such again," Ekibu said.

He further alleged that the suspect gained the girl's trust by allowing her to use his smartphone to watch comedy videos on TikTok.

Ekibu appealed for justice, saying the suspect had abused the trust placed in him as both a religious leader and an educator.

"I want Odongo to face the courts of law because he has destroyed the future of that girl and the bond we had together. I am the one who sold him the land where he established his school, and then he comes after my daughter. He was supposed to be a father figure and a guide to this young girl, not someone who would spoil her future," he said.

The LC I Chairperson of the area, Augustin Ewalu, said he rushed to the school after receiving reports that angry residents were threatening to take the law into their own hands.

"I found that Odongo had been locked inside the office with the teenager. The community restrained him there while waiting for police to arrive," Ewalu said.

He added that local leaders managed to calm the situation and prevent mob justice until police officers arrived at around 11 p.m. and took both the suspect and the teenager into their custody.

Ewalu described the allegations as shocking, noting that the suspect held positions of trust within both the church and the school and was expected to provide moral guidance to young people.

Police at Odudui Police Post have since opened investigations into the alleged offence. The teenager has undergone medical examination as part of the investigation, and the findings are expected to support the case file.

By press time, police had not issued an official statement on the matter or confirmed the charges to be preferred against the suspect. Investigations were ongoing.

Source Credit - URN