The Monitor, Kampala, 19 March 1998

Up Country

Boy gets 12 strokes for defilement

High Court in Kabale has directed that a juvenile who pleaded guilty to defilement be given 12 strokes of the cane, resident state attorney for Kabale, Rukungiri and Kisoro, Brian Bakora Arinaitwe has said.

On March 13, prosecution led by Arinaitwe claimed that on May 5, 1997, at Kanyangaba in Kisoro, one Nkundabanyanga, 14, forced one Vasta, 11, into sex for two hours.

Nkundabanyanga pleaded guilty, saying: "I slept with Vasta for two hours and had sexual intercourse with her because we agreed to marry. I was sleeping with my wife for the first time."

Reading out the judgement, Justice Tinyinondi said Nkundabanyanga, being a juvenile, should be corrected by educative penalty as opposed to grave vindictive penalty. Nkundabanyanga was sentenced with caution and is to be given 12 strokes of the cane.

Others sentenced were: Wilson Baingana and Louis Ntakirutimana to 12 years imprisonment for rape; and Leo Hamujuni to 12 years and 12 strokes of the cane for defilement.

Arinaitwe said there are 22 cases still to be heard.