35 year old sentenced to life imprisonment over defilement
The Ibanda chief magistrate’s court has sentenced a 35-year-old man to life imprisonment after he confessed to defiling his niece in December last year.
Edmund Musinguzi, of Kategure cell in Kayenje, Bufunda Division in Ibanda Municipality, pleaded guilty to the offence while appearing before Ibanda chief magistrate, Aloysius Natwijuka.
The crime contravenes section 129 (i) of the Penal Code Act.
His victim, a 15-year-old primary school pupil, is the daughter of his brother.
Musinguzi who claimed that he was drunk at the time he committed the crime prayed to court for leniency, however he got a shock of his life when his Worship Natwijuka handed him the maximum sentence.
“You are hereby convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on your own plea of guilt. This should serve as an example to all people who take advantage of minors under their care,” said the chief magistrate.
Natwijuka said many male relatives are abusing underage girls, but “they escape scot-free because the victims are threatened not to speak out by the perpetrators or the relatives to keep quiet and not to shame the family”.
His Worship Natwijuka explained that besides the crime of defilement, the convict had also committed incest which is also punishable under Uganda’s laws.
“You are free to appeal to the High Court if you are not satisfied with the sentence,” he advised the convict.
