[1999] UGCA 8

{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\uc1\deff0\stshfdbch0\stshfloch0\stshfhich0\stshfbi0\deflang2057\deflangfe2057{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman;}{\f36\froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE;} {\f37\froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr;}{\f39\froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek;}{\f40\froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur;}{\f41\froman\fcharset177\fprq2 Times New Roman (Hebrew);} {\f42\froman\fcharset178\fprq2 Times New Roman (Arabic);}{\f43\froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic;}{\f44\froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Times New Roman (Vietnamese);}}{\colortbl;\red0\green0\blue0;\red0\green0\blue255;\red0\green255\blue255; \red0\green255\blue0;\red255\green0\blue255;\red255\green0\blue0;\red255\green255\blue0;\red255\green255\blue255;\red0\green0\blue128;\red0\green128\blue128;\red0\green128\blue0;\red128\green0\blue128;\red128\green0\blue0;\red128\green128\blue0; \red128\green128\blue128;\red192\green192\blue192;}{\stylesheet{\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1033\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp2057 \snext0 Normal;}{\*\cs10 \additive \ssemihidden Default Paragraph Font;}{\*\ts11\tsrowd\trftsWidthB3\trpaddl108\trpaddr108\trpaddfl3\trpaddft3\trpaddfb3\trpaddfr3\trcbpat1\trcfpat1\tscellwidthfts0\tsvertalt\tsbrdrt\tsbrdrl\tsbrdrb\tsbrdrr\tsbrdrdgl\tsbrdrdgr\tsbrdrh\tsbrdrv \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1024\langfe1024\cgrid\langnp1024\langfenp1024 \snext11 \ssemihidden Normal Table;}{ \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 \sbasedon0 \snext15 \styrsid6912118 Normal (Web);}{\s16\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar \tqc\tx4153\tqr\tx8306\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1033\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp2057 \sbasedon0 \snext16 \styrsid15099336 footer;}{\*\cs17 \additive \sbasedon10 \styrsid15099336 page number;}} {\*\latentstyles\lsdstimax156\lsdlockeddef0}{\*\pgptbl {\pgp\ipgp0\itap0\li0\ri0\sb0\sa0}}{\*\rsidtbl \rsid136920\rsid274609\rsid485177\rsid556684\rsid659462\rsid664741\rsid917538\rsid927942\rsid989420\rsid1181291\rsid1386193\rsid2494090\rsid2654028 \rsid2828671\rsid3030982\rsid3083734\rsid3344365\rsid3363240\rsid3433939\rsid3631666\rsid3951827\rsid4277367\rsid4394937\rsid4788358\rsid5067222\rsid5391371\rsid5513164\rsid5521461\rsid6310293\rsid6494996\rsid6912118\rsid7481447\rsid7488815\rsid7503713 \rsid7736191\rsid7760981\rsid7808639\rsid7955076\rsid8283368\rsid8587455\rsid8854351\rsid8858630\rsid9450102\rsid10246367\rsid10435620\rsid10451569\rsid10495257\rsid10501830\rsid10567427\rsid10630365\rsid10704626\rsid10777418\rsid10815232\rsid11023801 \rsid11214090\rsid11355092\rsid11813779\rsid11996237\rsid12004203\rsid12219087\rsid12398478\rsid12454698\rsid13655592\rsid13719228\rsid13778835\rsid13909847\rsid13981333\rsid14048615\rsid14230087\rsid14353272\rsid14627581\rsid14750223\rsid14814292 \rsid14943545\rsid14966666\rsid15038951\rsid15085415\rsid15086497\rsid15099336\rsid15485213\rsid16392646\rsid16516869}{\*\generator Microsoft Word 11.0.5604;}{\info{\title THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA }{\author skivumbi}{\operator skivumbi} {\creatim\yr2009\mo10\dy7\hr15\min5}{\revtim\yr2009\mo10\dy8\hr10\min40}{\version2}{\edmins6}{\nofpages5}{\nofwords1132}{\nofchars6459}{\nofcharsws7576}{\vern24689}} \widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\noxlattoyen\expshrtn\noultrlspc\dntblnsbdb\nospaceforul\hyphcaps0\formshade\horzdoc\dghspace180\dgvspace180\dghorigin1701\dgvorigin1984\dghshow0\dgvshow0 \jexpand\viewkind1\viewscale100\pgbrdrhead\pgbrdrfoot\nolnhtadjtbl\nojkernpunct\rsidroot6912118 \fet0{\*\ftnsep \pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1033\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp2057 { \insrsid15099336 \chftnsep \par }}{\*\ftnsepc \pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1033\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp2057 {\insrsid15099336 \chftnsepc \par }}{\*\aftnsep \pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1033\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp2057 {\insrsid15099336 \chftnsep \par }}{\*\aftnsepc \pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1033\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp2057 {\insrsid15099336 \chftnsepc \par }}\sectd \linex0\endnhere\sectdefaultcl\sftnbj {\footer \pard\plain \s16\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tqc\tx4153\tqr\tx8306\pvpara\phmrg\posxr\posy0\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11994841 \fs20\lang1033\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp2057 {\field{\*\fldinst {\cs17\insrsid15099336 PAGE }}{\fldrslt {\cs17\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof\insrsid15099336 1}}}{\cs17\insrsid15099336 \par }\pard \s16\ql \li0\ri360\widctlpar\tqc\tx4153\tqr\tx8306\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin360\lin0\itap0\pararsid15099336 {\insrsid15099336 \par }}{\*\pnseclvl1\pnucrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl2\pnucltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl3\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl4\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta )}} {\*\pnseclvl5\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl6\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl7\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl8 \pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \s15\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1 \widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15099336 \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \line IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF UGANDA \line AT KAMPALA \line }{\b\i\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 CORAM: }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 HON. MR. JUSTICE J. P. BERKO, J. A. \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 HON. MR. JUSTICE S. G. ENGWAU, J. A. & \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 HON. LADY JUSTICE C. N. B. KITUMBA, J. A. \line CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 31 OF 1998 \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15099336 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 KAYONDO FRED ) \line MUTAGAYIKA SILAS ) }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 APPELLANTS \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336

\par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15099336 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 VERSUS \line UGANDA}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 RESPONDENT \line (Appeal against conviction and senten}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 ce of the High Court of Uganda }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 sitting at Mukono (Mukiibi J) dated 11.8.}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 1998. }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 In Criminal Session Case No. 450 of 1995) \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15099336 {\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 JUDGMENT OF THE COURT: }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 This is an appeal against the judgment of the High Court sitting at Mukono whereby the two appellants were c}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 onvicted of defilement, contrary }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 to section 123(1) of the Penal Code Act and sentenced to 7 years\rquote imprisonment. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 The facts of the case, as accepted by the trial Judge, were as follows: On the 14th November 1994 at Busiro village, Mukono District at around 6. OOp.m. the two appellants went to the home of Justin Mpiima. They found Margaret Nakaddu, PW 2, present together with her younger sister Nakiryowa Keti, PW 3 and another small child called Magala. The parents were not present. PW 2 suffers from epileptic fits. The appellants persuaded PW 2 to go with them, though she did not

know where they were taking her. When her young relatives followed them, the appellants gave them Shs. 100/= to go and buy. pancakes and the children left. The appellants took PW 2 to a nearby bush. They told her to remove her knickers and to lie down. Ka yondo Fred, the first appellant, removed his pants and had sexual intercourse with PW 2 while Mutagayika Silas, the second appellant, held PW 2\rquote s hands. \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6912118 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 She felt a lot of pain. After defiling PW 2 both appellants went with her to Sekamwa\rquote s bar in the same village. They sat with PW 2 between them. The appellants bought her bread which she ate while they consumed local brew. In the meantime Justin Nakangu (PW 5) the victim\rquote s mother had returned home and had looked for PW 2, but had failed to find her. John Kaddu, PW 4, who had seen PW 2 in the bar together with appellants went to Mpiima\rquote s home and informed the mother that he had seen PW 2 in the bar. PW 5 went to the bar where she found PW 2 sitting between the two appellants. PW 5 took her d aughter home. PW 5 asked PW 2 what had happened to her but she did not answer. Then PW 5 examined the female organ of her daughter and found that she had been defiled and was bleeding from her vagina. The next day PW 2, told her mother what had happened t o her. PW 5 in turn informed her husband Justin Mpiima who reported the matter to the Local Council officials. Justin Mpiima took PW 2 to Ngogwe police Post and reported the incident and later took her to Kawolo hospital where she was medically examined on the }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid15099336 7}{\lang1033\langfe2057\super\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid15099336 th}{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 November 1994, by Dr. Fabiano Opal. According to the doctor\rquote s medical examination report Ex. P 1, there was a tear at the posterior junction between the left and right labia minora, bruises in the labia minora and labia major, the hymen was rupture d, there were signs of penetration which were consistent with force having been used sexually and there was pus discharge indicating a sexually transmitted disease. The injuries were about a week old. \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 The appellants were arrested and charged with defileme nt. At the trial both of them gave unsworn statements. In his statement, the first appellant testified that on 4/11/1994 he was at home the whole day. He said that Mpiima and his family had concocted the case against him because Mpiima had a love affair w ith the appellant\rquote s step mother. As the appellant did not approve of that relationship, Mpiima wanted to get him out of the way. The second appellant testified that on the 4/11/1994 he was in the forest cutting timber the whole day and went to his home late r in the evening. He testified that PW 4 has a grudge against him because the latter had failed to pay his debt amounting to Shs. 70,000/= and that the second appellant was about to sell PW 4\rquote s Kibanja which he had pledged as security. The learned trial Judge rejected their defences, convicted them as charged. \par Though there was one ground of appeal, it complained of two matters, namely: \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 \par }\pard \s15\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15099336 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 (a) that no sexual intercourse took place and }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 (b) that the appellants were not responsible! \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15099336 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 During the hearing of the ap peal Mr. Muhwezi, learned counsel for the appellants abandoned the second part of the ground of appeal on identification of the appellants and rightly so in our view, as the offence was committed during the day and appellants were known before this incide nt by the victim(PW 2)and her young sister PW 3. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 Counsel for the appellants argued that no sexual intercourse took place. Firstly, because PW 2, the victim of the defilement was not mentally normal and could not therefore understand what took place. Accord ingly, the learned trial Judge erred in relying on her evidence. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 With due respect to learned counsel, we disagree. We agree with the submissions of Mr. Bireije, that although PW 2 suffered from epilepsy, this was a periodic illness and that she was able t o understand what happened when she had no attacks. The learned trial Judge received and accepted her evidence that both appellants seduced her from her home, took her to the bush and the first appellant had sexual intercourse with her while the second ap pellant held her hands. PW 2 was able to testify before court. We are unable to fault the learned trial Judge on this matter. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6912118 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 Secondly, Mr. Muhwezi argued that there was no corroboration of PW 2\rquote s evidence that she was defiled. Learned counsel contended that the learned trial Judge was wrong in relying on the medical evidence as corroboration of PW 2\rquote s evidence. PW 2 was defiled on 4/11/1994 and examined three days afterwards. However, the medical evidence is to the effect that the injuries found on PW 2\rquote s private parts were one week old. According to counsel, the rupture of the hymen and other injuries found by the doctor might have been caused by her falling during an attack of epilepsy on }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid15099336 31}{\lang1033\langfe2057\super\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid15099336 st}{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 October or }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid15099336 1}{\lang1033\langfe2057\super\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid15099336 st}{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 of November. We are unable to agree with the above submission. We are of the view that a difference by a few days in the doctor\rquote s estimate of the date when the sexual intercourse took place does not render his evidence unreliable. The doctor simply estimated the period. He said that the injuries we re caused about a week prior to the date of examination. This clearly shows that he was, not trying to give the exact date when the incident happened. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 Counsel for the appellant attacked the evidence of PW 5 that it did not provide corroboration of PW 2\rquote s evidence because PW 5 was not an eye witness and that when she took PW 2 from the bar she did not talk to her. We are in entire agreement with learned counsel for the respondent that PW 5\rquote s evidence corroborated PW 2\rquote s evidence that the latter had been defiled. Our reason for saying so is that as soon as PW 5 took her daughter home, she examined her private parts and observed that she had been defiled and blood was oozing from her vagina. \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 We find that the learned trial judge properly directed the assessors and himself on the issue of corroboration, and correctly found that the evidence of PW 2 that she was defiled was corroborated by the evidence of PW 5 and the medical evidence of PW 1. }{ \b\i\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 C}{\b\i\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 hila v Another v Re\'f8ublic [1967]}{\b\i\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 EA. 722. }{ \b\i\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 \line }{\b\i\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 We find no merit in this appeal. It is accordingly dismissed. }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 DATED at Kampala this }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 12}{\lang1033\langfe2057\super\langnp1033\insrsid15099336\charrsid15099336 th}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 day of May }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 1999. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 \par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15099336 {\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15099336 J. P. Berko \par Justice of Appeal. \line \par S. G. Engwau \line Justice of Appeal. \line \par C. N.}{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 B. Kitumba \line Justice of Appeal.}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6912118\charrsid6912118 \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6912118 \fs20\lang1033\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp2057 {\fs24\insrsid14750223\charrsid6912118 \par }}