The media recently reported that students who show up late for school are locked out. Critics castigated this policy and urged school authorities to take other measures in dealing with latecomers. The worry is where do the students who are turned away go? 

These students, usually dressed in uniform, save for a few who carry extra clothes in their backpacks, can be found in bars, local cinema shacks and based on The New Times undercover investigation, lodges are a safe haven for these students, especially girls who are lured by men to give in to sex in exchange for gifts.

Who would let a student in a lodge? One may ask. Shockingly, not only do they let them in, but even with a boy (or man) with them, some of these places could care less. As long as they have paid for the room, what happens inside is not their business. You’d think the fact that these kids are in uniform is enough to raise concern but no. So, who can be so negligent as to let kids into a lodge?

With the help of a female colleague who could easily pass for a secondary student and dressed in uniform, on Wednesday, we embarked on an undercover investigation to ascertain these allegations.

She wore a white shirt and khaki skirt and we hit the road to find these lodges that actually let students into their premises without so much as raising an eyebrow.

Our first stop was in Remera at the infamous Corridor. Since there were reports of police patrol in the area and a lot of activity going on, we tried to be discreet lest our cover was blown. The place is crawling with lodges, the neat, the not-so-neat, and the downright filthy.

Sunrise LodgeAt 10:30am, I entered Sunrise Lodge leaving my partner in the car to ask about the price for a room. At the entrance, I met a few couples who were leaving after a night of fun if their physical appearance was anything to go by.

A lady who looked to be in her 30’s welcomed me and our conversation which was in Kinyarwanda went like this: Me: Good morning (as I looked around and saw some kids playing in the compound behind).Her: Good morning.Me: I need a room but there’s a slight problem which I am sure we can work out.Her: Okay, what is it?Me: The girl I’m with is a student but that’s not the problem. The problem is that she is in uniform.

I could see an expression of disappointment on the lady’s face when I said that. But I soon discovered that it wasn’t because I was with a student, it was because the prospect of making a quick buck was fading and she was powerless to stop it.

She was scared of Police which was on patrol in the area. Her response was, "I’m sorry I can’t do it. I used to do in it the past but these days Police has spies in the area. It is actually very risky.”

I tried to convince her by offering her more money but she refused. I left and decided to try another place.

Dream Lodge

Dream Lodge is also located in Remera Corridor next to a bar. I found a young man and two ladies seated outside the bar. I entered the place that had a huge counter and the walls were covered with posters of premier league football teams.

The receptionist told me the same thing, the lady at Sunrise lodge told me. It was only impossible because she was in uniform. She stated clearly that age wasn’t the issue, it was the uniform. "Now, the problem is that she is in a school uniform. If she wasn’t in a school uniform, I would give you a room without even asking for any documents.”

After hitting another dead end, I realised that I might not be successful. But we gave it another shot at Me and You Lodge. The story was the same. 

But giving up was not an option. We decided to try unmarked lodges or lodges in secluded places. We immediately went to a lodge opposite Zigama Credit and Savings Scheme. I entered and found a man at the gate who showed us a lady to talk to.

After telling the lady what I wanted, she almost said no but I convinced her and eventually she relented after telling her that we would be in for 30 to 45 minutes and I would pay her Rwf 5000. I called my partner and we entered the room.

However, 10 minutes later, the guy I met at the gate came knocking at the door and told us that Police was around the area, so we had to leave.

Efforts to convince him otherwise were futile but he gave me his phone number and asked us to call him at 5pm to arrange a room for us. He escorted us outside the gate while we talked casually to make it look like we had come to check on him.

Havana Lodge

Leaving that place, we headed to Gikondo and ended up at Havana Lodge. I entered the gate and was met by the gateman dressed in a blue shirt, black trousers and gumboots. After explaining to him what I wanted, he asked us to wait at the gate as he went to consult with the person in charge. He came back and told us that it was okay.

We were ushered inside and led to a room. For 30 minutes we paid Rwf 10,000 and just sat in the room.

We disorganised the bed while we talked in hushed tones. Later, my partner removed her shirt and stayed in a black vest, she also wrapped a towel on top of her skirt which she had folded and headed to the bathroom.

The two men didn’t seem bothered as they went around doing their work. She splashed water all over the place to make it look like we had taken a bath and talked casually as we moved out.

I came to the conclusion that no one is really bothered about the fact that these are kids. They are worried about the uniform and the kind of trouble they will get in, but should they come in casual clothes, no one will ask for an ID to make sure they are of legal age.

Also, insinuations were made that the best time to go to these places is in the evenings, maybe afternoons when there is a minor chance of getting caught.

WHAT DOES THE POLICE HAVE TO SAY?It is illegal for any person operating a lodge to let into their premises underage girls or students. Such an offense is punishable by law under article 219 of the penal code.We are currently sensitising people on this habit and I call upon everyone to be part of the fight against it.Anyone who sees such a thing should report the matter to the nearest police station or personnel around. We have to put our efforts together, parents, leaders on different levels, teachers and everyone else, if we are to put a stop to this habit.ACP Damas Gatare, Police spokesperson

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WHO'S TO BLAME FOR THE STUDENT SEX DENS?

Grace Namara: There are several people to blame when it comes to this topic. First of all, what is a secondary school girl doing going to a lodge? Are we as a generation so sex-minded that we are willing to for go school just for a simple pleasure of life?

Secondly, what type of a man takes a young school girl to a lodge? We should have a responsibility as adults to protect these children. And then, the lodge owners should also be blamed because how do they allow such things to happen under their watch?

Lastly, the government should also toughen up on the punishments they give to these guys. If the punishments are not strong, then such habits will never end. I don’t think it is right to sit and watch while this whole mess goes on. God should surely save us!

Pacifique Mwiza: As much as people might want to blame the girl, I think the men and the lodge owners are the ones to blame. These are young girls who are easily lured by the mere sight of money so it would be harsh to judge considering that people have done worse things for less money.

However, why would a man get a young school girl and take her to a lodge for sexual pleasure? Does such a man imagine if the same would happen to his daughter? It is sickening to say the least. And the lodge owners, why do they allow such things to happen to these innocent girls?

They should take a stand and stop this habit otherwise we are looking at a generation that might never amount to anything.

Shamim Kajangwe: I think the men, teachers and parents should take the biggest blame. Men should be blamed because if they didn’t offer money or material things, then the girls wouldn’t be in those lodges.

The lodge owners are only interested in making money and no one can blame them for it. The girls are too blind to distinguish between being used and the real thing. People might argue that it is love but I don’t understand how a 26-year -old man can sit comfortably thinking that a 17-year-old girl loves him. It is high time teachers and parents got back to the basics of parenting.

Teachers should get concerned if a student is missing from school and contact the parents, parents too should start visiting their children at school even though they are day students to consult teachers about their progress and if they notice some strange behaviour since they spend more time at school than at home.

Victor Arinaitwe: Instead of looking at who to blame, why can’t we start with ourselves? We are the same people who chase after these young girls; on top of that we are the ones who offer them meaningless gifts, so it is wrong to portion blame.

We should first, as society, fight this vice because it started with us and we are the same people who will come up with all the ideas on how to sneak these girls out of school. So, before we go to the government, let us do our role as society first, and then we can point fingers at authorities, parents and teachers.