ugandan girls school expels learners on accusation that they are romantically involved

By Ahmed Wetaka Busia (The Daily Monitor)

August 12, 2005: Four students were on August 3 indefinitely suspended from Dabani Girl's Secondary School for allegedly practicing lesbianism. The majority of them were in Senior Three.

The Daily Monitor accessed one of the suspension letters dated August 3 and signed by the headmistress, Ms T. N Yiga. The letter stated that, "Your daughter (names withheld) has been found heavily involved in the practice of lesbianism, which they carry on in the dormitory which are shared after lights are switched off".

The letter went further to say, "This is unhealthy and unacceptable behavior in a boarding school and we have to fight the practice collectively." The letter said the students were tirelessly counseled against the practice which they seem to have not taken heed.

A source that preferred anonymity and a guardian to one of the suspended girls said, "These students have been engaged in this practice for some time, I was even shown a file about my own daughter." The source said the file that the school administration showed the parents contained many love letters and cards that their children had been exchanging.

The source said he was summoned to the school and given his daughter. Yiga was however cagey when Daily Monitor reached her for a comment. "It's not true that we have dismissed any student because lesbianism. All I know of is that we suspended four students over indiscipline and asked them to return with their parents to school," Yiga told the Daily Monitor.