A 26-year-old man named Duhimbaze Richard from Mugwata village, Sooko parish in Muramba sub-county Kisoro has been handed a 15-year prison sentence by the Kabale High Court, presided over by Resident Judge Hon. Justice Emokor Samuel.
The sentencing comes after Duhimbaze pleaded guilty to the heinous crime of defiling an 8-year-old girl in 2021.
To protect the privacy of the minor victim, her name has been withheld. She resides in the same village as the convict.
The proceedings at the High Court in Kisoro yesterday revealed that on November 2, 2021, Duhimbaze, then 24 years old, forcefully engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim against her will at Mugwata.
According to the prosecution, led by Grace Nabagala Ntege, Duhimbaze Richard frightened three young girls, aged between 5 to 8 years, as they were returning to their homes in the early evening hours at Mugwata village.
The girls attempted to flee, but unfortunately, the victim was apprehended and subjected to sexual assault.
Having pleaded guilty to the offense, Duhimbaze Richard was found guilty of Aggravated Defilement, as per the provisions outlined in Section 129 (3), (4) (a), and (b) of the Penal Code Act.
In delivering the sentence, Hon. Justice Emokor Emanuel acknowledged that the convict did not waste the court’s time by admitting his guilt.
Consequently, Duhimbaze received a 15-year prison term, with the deduction of the one year and six months he had already spent in custody awaiting trial.
