Pakwach, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Police in Pakwach District have arrested a man named Ivan Mungungeyo for allegedly sexually assaulting a female passenger on a Nile Star bus. Mungungeyo, who lives in Wampewo Kasawe Zone, Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District, was detained after the victim, Judith Jurua Tracy, 21, reported the incident to the Pakwach police.
Mungungeyo denies the accusations, claiming his trouser zip was accidentally open.
Josephine Angucia, the police spokesperson for the West Nile region, said the incident happened on Saturday night in Kichobonyobo village, Masindi District. Both the suspect and the victim were traveling on a Nile Star bus (registration number UBF 691T) from Kampala to Arua.
“The police in Pakwach District are investigating a case of indecent assault on a female passenger by a male passenger on a night bus from Kampala to Arua City. The incident allegedly took place in Kichobonyobo village, Masindi District,” Angucia stated.
Reports suggest that the victim was initially seated with another female passenger. When the other woman got off the bus in Luwero, Mungungeyo took her seat.
Angucia reported that while the bus was moving, Mungungeyo allegedly touched the victim’s thigh and exposed himself, rubbing his genitals on her sweater. The victim then alerted the bus conductor.
“The male passenger allegedly started touching the female victim’s thigh. When she removed his hand, he exposed himself and rubbed his genitals on her sweater,” Angucia added.
The bus conductor, who did not want to be named, confirmed the incident but said the suspect claimed his trousers were unzipped by mistake. “He denied the allegation, saying he forgot to zip his trousers, which is why his genitals were exposed,” the conductor said.
According to the Annual Police Crime Report 2023, there were 14,846 sex-related cases reported to the police, a 1.4 percent increase from 14,693 cases in 2022. Additionally, 299 cases of indecent assault were reported last year.
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