The Chief Magistrates Court in Mbarara has granted bail to a lecturer at Bishop Stuart University, Doreen Atwongyirwe, accused of causing grievous harm to her 16-year-old maid, Anita Kansiime, an incident that shocked many.
The incident, which involved Atwongyirwe’s allegedly pouring hot water on Kansiime after some disagreement, left the young girl with serious injuries. The seriousness of the accusations, combined with Atwongyirwe’s respected academic standing, has made this case a focal point of both local community concern and widespread social media backlash.
While discharging her of the court’s custody, Atwongyirwe was granted a cash bail of UGX 1.5 million and a non-cash bond of UGX 10 million to each of her three sureties. This case has been highly discussed because of its devastating nature, as well as due to the involvement of such a highly perceived university lecturer in such a scandal.
Many are waiting with bated breath for the continuation of the trial, since its larger implications concern the treatment of domestic workers in Uganda and the conduct expected of academic leaders.
The next developments during the trial are likely to shed light on the details of the incident as the public and media stay tuned to the latest news about the lecturer’s case.
