Bernhard Bery Glaser, the 73- year old German and founder of Ssese Humanitarian service in Kalangala district who has been in prison on allegations of defilement, indecent assault and aggravated child trafficking has died.
Uganda Prisons Spokesperson Frank Beine told this website that Glaser died at the prison’s facility at 8:15am after Court hand granted him bail to travel abroad for medical treatment.
This German national had earlier been admitted at Mulago but the hospital management later recommended that he travels abroad for specialized treatment.
Mr Beine didn’t reveal what killed Glaser. It is believed to have succumbed to cancer.
“The process of clearing him to travel hadn’t ended before he died. We are now taking the body to Mulago and we will inform all relevant stakeholders,” said Beine.
The foreigner hit headlines after he was accused of sexually abusing girls in his care.
Bernhard Bery Glaser had been running an organisation for over 10 years where he was believed to provide shelter to child survivors of sexual violence, sex trafficking and those at risk of sex abuse
Mr Glaser was first arrested on 1 December 2013 on suspicion of sexually abusing 19 minors under his care in
Kalanga but was later acquitted by the court.
He had been running an organisation called Ssese Humanitarian Services out of his home in Kalanga for over 10 years, under the guise of providing shelter to child survivors of sexual violence and trafficking.
He is believed to have signed up 30 girls aged between three and 20 years old during this time.
He has, however, since been twice arrested on charges relating to sex abuse.
In the first case on 1th December 2013, he was arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing 19 minors under his care in Kalanga, but was later acquitted by the court.
At one point, authorities raided Mr Glaser’s home, but he was out at the time. His wife Ingrid Hehns was arrested for questioning.
The authorities rescued at least 11 children and Mr Glaser was arrested later when he reported to police.