[2006] UGCA 4

{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\uc1\deff0\stshfdbch0\stshfloch0\stshfhich0\stshfbi0\deflang2057\deflangfe2057{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman;}{\f170\froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE;} {\f171\froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr;}{\f173\froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek;}{\f174\froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur;}{\f175\froman\fcharset177\fprq2 Times New Roman (Hebrew);} {\f176\froman\fcharset178\fprq2 Times New Roman (Arabic);}{\f177\froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic;}{\f178\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\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 \snext0 Normal;}{\s1\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1 \keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\fs28\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 \sbasedon0 \snext0 heading 1;}{\s2\ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1 \keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel1\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\fs28\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 \sbasedon0 \snext0 heading 2;}{\*\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\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1 \widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\fs28\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 \sbasedon0 \snext15 Title;}{\s16\ql \li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0 \b\fs28\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 \sbasedon0 \snext16 Body Text Indent;}{\s17\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tqc\tx4153\tqr\tx8306\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 \sbasedon0 \snext17 footer;}{\*\cs18 \additive \sbasedon10 page number;}{\*\cs19 \additive \sbasedon10 line number;}}{\*\latentstyles\lsdstimax156\lsdlockeddef0}{\*\listtable{\list\listtemplateid-612877316\listsimple{\listlevel\levelnfc3\levelnfcn3 \leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\'02\'00.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fbias0 \fi-360\li360\jclisttab\tx360\lin360 }{\listname ;}\listid704066832}}{\*\listoverridetable{\listoverride\listid704066832 \listoverridecount0\ls1}}{\*\rsidtbl \rsid12060738\rsid13857403}{\*\generator Microsoft Word 11.0.5604;}{\info{\title THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA}{\author Court of Appeal}{\operator jchemeri}{\creatim\yr2008\mo10\dy13\hr12\min38} {\revtim\yr2008\mo10\dy13\hr12\min38}{\version2}{\edmins0}{\nofpages3}{\nofwords734}{\nofchars4184}{\*\company Courts of Judicature}{\nofcharsws4909}{\vern24689}}\paperw11906\paperh16838\margl1797\margr1797 \widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\noxlattoyen\expshrtn\noultrlspc\dntblnsbdb\nospaceforul\formshade\horzdoc\dghspace180\dgvspace180\dghorigin1701\dgvorigin1984\dghshow0\dgvshow0 \jexpand\viewkind1\viewscale100\pgbrdrhead\pgbrdrfoot\nolnhtadjtbl\nojkernpunct\rsidroot13857403 \fet0{\*\ftnsep \pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid13857403 \chftnsep \par }}{\*\ftnsepc \pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid13857403 \chftnsepc \par }}{\*\aftnsep \pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid13857403 \chftnsep \par }}{\*\aftnsepc \pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid13857403 \chftnsepc \par }}\sectd \psz9\linemod5\linex0\endnhere\sectdefaultcl\sftnbj {\footer \pard\plain \s17\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tqc\tx4153\tqr\tx8306\pvpara\phmrg\posxc\posy0\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\field{\*\fldinst {\cs18\insrsid13857403 PAGE }}{\fldrslt {\cs18\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof\insrsid12060738 1}}}{\cs18\insrsid13857403 \par }\pard \s17\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tqc\tx4153\tqr\tx8306\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid13857403 \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\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\fs28\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \par }\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF UGANDA \par AT KAMPALA \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\b\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\b\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 CORAM:\tab HON. JUSTICE A. E. N. MPAGI-BAHIGEINE, JA. \par \tab \tab HON. JUSTICE A. TWINOMUJUNI, JA. \par \tab \tab HON. JUSTICE C. N. B. KITUMBA, JA. \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\b\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 \par }\pard\plain \s1\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\fs28\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 325 OF 2003

\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 \par LUGGYA LAWRENCE :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: APPLICANT \par }\pard\plain \s1\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\fs28\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 VERSUS \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 UGANDA :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: RESPONDENT \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\b\i\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 [An appeal from the sentence of the High Court Mubende \par (Akiiki-Kizza, J.) in Criminal Session Case No.227 of 2003]}{\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 \par \par }\pard\plain \s2\ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel1\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\fs28\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 JUDGEMENT OF THE COURT \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 This is an appeal against the sentence of 10 years imprisonment which was passed against the appellant for the offence of defilement contrary to section 129 (1) of the Penal Code Act. \par \par The background to the appeal is as follows:- The appellant was an uncle of the victim and both of them lived at Birikina village, Mubende District. On the 4}{\fs24\super\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 th}{\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 day of April 2001 during daytime, the victim was passing by the appellant\rquote s home while going to the home of her grandfather, when the appellant called her to his house. He pu t her on his bed and defiled her. Afterwards he warned her not to tell anyone otherwise he would beat her if she did not comply with his instruction. The victim proceeded to her grandfather\rquote s home and later on to her mother\rquote s home. In the evening of th at day the victim looked sickly. When her mother, Nagawa Zulaita, was bathing her she told her she had some pain in her private parts. When she examined her private parts she noticed that she had been defiled. On being asked by her mother who had done s o, the victim named the appellant as her defiler. Nagawa Zulaita reported the matter to Local Council authorities and a search for the appellant was mounted. On 7/4/2001 the appellant went to Nagawa and asked for forgiveness. However, the appellant was

arrested and taken to the police. The victim was taken for medical examination. She was found to be 5 years old. Her hymen had been ruptured some days back. She had injuries and inflammations around her private parts. The injuries were consistent wit h force having been used. \par \par The appellant was indicted for defilement contrary to section 129 (1) of the Penal Code Act and pleaded not guilty. When the prosecution closed its case the appellant changed his plea and pleaded guilty to the indictment. He was convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. \par \par He has with leave of court appealed against sentence on the sole ground which reads: - \par \par }\pard\plain \s16\qj \li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0 \b\fs28\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 \'93 The sentence of 10 years passed by the trial judge on the appellant was harsh and excessive in the circumstances of the case considering the appellant as a first offender who pleaded guilty, saving the court\rquote s time and expenses of a protracted trial.\'94}{\b0\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 \par }\pard\plain \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 \par Arguing the ground of appeal, Mr. Mark Bwengye, counsel for the appellant, contended that the sentence of 10 years i mprisonment which was imposed on the appellant, aged 21 years was excessive. He submitted that the aim of the sentence is to allow the offender to reform. According to counsel, in the instant appeal, the appellant would be locked away for a very long ti me and will not be afforded the opportunity to reform. He prayed court to allow the appeal and reduce the sentence from 10 years imprisonment to 5 imprisonment. \par \par Ms Komuhangi, learned Senior State Attorney, for the respondent supported the sentence. She a rgued that before passing sentence the learned trial judge took into account all the mitigating and aggravating circumstances. He sentenced the appellant to an appropriate term of imprisonment. She prayed court to dismiss the appeal. \par \par Sentencing is a discretionary matter for the trial judge. The appellate court would not interfere with the sentence unless it is shown that it is based on wrong principles or is manifestly harsh or excessive. See }{ \b\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 Sulaiman Katusabe v Uganda Criminal Appeal No. 7 of 1991 (Supreme Court). \par \par In the instant case }{\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 the appellant was convicted of defilement which carries a maximum sentence of death. The learned trial judge considered the penalty for the offence the period spent on remand, the age of the victim and his relationsh ip to the appellant. He sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment for defiling his niece. \par \par This court, in the case of }{\b\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 Kiberu Christopher vs Uganda, Criminal Appeal No. 66 of 1998}{\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 , which is similar to the instant appeal, confirmed a sentence of imprisonment f or 12 years. The appellant defiled a neighbour\rquote s daughter aged 4 years. \par \par We are of a considering view that the instant appeal is very similar to the above case. In both cases the victims were very young and had close relationship with the appellants. We see no good reason to interfere with the sentence passed by the learned trial judge. \par \par In the result this appeal is dismissed for lack of merit. \par \par }{\b\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 Dated at Kampala this 31}{\b\fs24\super\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 st}{\b\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 day of January 2006. \par \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\b\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 \par }\pard\plain \s1\qc \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\fs28\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 A. E. N. Mpagi-Bahigeine \par JUSTICE OF APPEAL \par }\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 \par \par {\pntext\pard\plain\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langfenp1033\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 A.\tab}}\pard \qc \fi-360\li360\ri0\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx360{\*\pn \pnlvlbody\ilvl0\ls1\pnrnot0\pnucltr\pnstart1\pnindent360\pnsp120\pnhang {\pntxta .}}\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin0\lin360\itap0 {\b\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 Twinomujuni \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\b\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 JUSTICE OF APPEAL \par \par \par C. N. B. Kitumba \par JUSTICE OF APPEAL \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 \par \par \par }{\b\fs24\insrsid13857403\charrsid12060738 \par }}