[2007] UGCA 60
The Court of Appeal found that the sentence imposed by the trial judge was neither illegal nor excessive. The trial judge had considered all mitigation factors presented on behalf of the appellant before passing sentence. The appellate court saw no reason to interfere with the sentence, as it was appropriate in the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2007] UGCA 60
- Parties
- Appellant: Mushabe Abdul; Respondent: Uganda
- Court
- Court of Appeal of Uganda
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Case Number
- Criminal Appeal No. 237 of 2003
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Judgment
- Outcome
- appeal dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Defilement, Sentencing, Mitigation of Sentence
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Mushabe Abdul
Appellant
Uganda
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the sentence of 14 years imprisonment for defilement was excessive or illegal.
- 2 Whether the trial judge properly considered mitigation factors in sentencing.
Ratio Decidendi
The Court of Appeal found that the sentence imposed by the trial judge was neither illegal nor excessive. The trial judge had considered all mitigation factors presented on behalf of the appellant before passing sentence. The appellate court saw no reason to interfere with the sentence, as it was appropriate in the circumstances of the case, which involved the defilement of a four-year-old child. The appeal was therefore dismissed for lack of merit.
Court Disposition
appeal dismissed
Orders
- The appeal is dismissed.
- The sentence of 14 years imprisonment is upheld.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
2 paragraphs
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{\field{\*\fldinst {\cs18\insrsid15864746 PAGE }}{\fldrslt {\cs18\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof\insrsid15864746 1}}}{\cs18\insrsid15864746 \par }\pard \s17\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tqc\tx4153\tqr\tx8306\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid15864746 \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\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \par }\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\b\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\b\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\b\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 CORAM:\tab HON. JUSTICE L. E. M. MUKASA-KIKONYOGO, DCJ \par \tab \tab HON. JUSTICE S. G. ENGWAU, 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\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 \par }\pard\plain \s1\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\fs28\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 237 OF 2003
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\b\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 \par MUSHABE ABDUL :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: APPELLANT \par }\pard\plain \s1\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\fs28\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 VERSUS \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\b\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 UGANDA ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: RESPONDENT \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\b\i\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 [Appeal from the judgement of the High Court of Uganda \par at Mbarara (P. K. Mugamba, J.) dated 23/1/2003 in \par Criminal Session Case No. 102 of 2001] \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\b\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 \par }\pard\plain \s2\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel1\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\fs28\ul\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 JUDGEMENT OF THE COURT \par }\pard\plain \s16\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs28\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 The appellant Mushabe Abdul was convicted of defilement contrary to }{\b\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 section 123((1) }{\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 and }{\b\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 129(1)}{ \fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 (new) }{\b\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 of the Penal Code Act. \par }\pard\plain \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 \par The facts leading to this appeal are briefly as follows. The victim, who testified as PW1 at the trial and was then aged 4 years, was sent by her parents to fetch water from the well. The appellant met the victim on the way after she had collected water and requested her to give him water to drink. The victim obliged. She returned to the well to fill her container. T he appellant offered her to improvise a cover for her container but she refused. The appellant then grabbed her, threw her on the ground and forcibly had sexual intercourse with her. He ran away. The victim proceeded home while crying. \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 \par }\pard\plain \s20\qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs28\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 The appellant was ch ased and arrested nearby and taken to the authorities \par \par and later to the police. \par }\pard\plain \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 \par During the trial the appellant denied the offence and stated that he was framed up by the victim\rquote s father who had a grudge against him. The learned trial judge rejected the appellant\rquote s defence, believed the prosecution case and convicted him. He sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment. Dissatisfied with the sentence he has appealed to this court. \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 Ms Matovu, learned counsel for the appellant, has prayed court to reduce the sentence from 14 years i}{ \fs24\insrsid15864746 mprisonment to 8 years. Mr. Ka}{\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 muli, learned Senior State Attorney, supported the sentence as being appropriate. \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 We have considered the submissions by both counsel and read the record. We are of the considered view that the sentence passed by the learned trial judge was ne}{\fs24\insrsid15864746 i}{\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 ther illegal nor excessive. We see no reason for reducing the same. The learned trial judge considered all what was said in mitigation for the appellant and passed the sentence, which was appropriate in the circumstances. \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 The appeal is devoid of merit. It is accordingly dismissed. \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\b\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 Dated at Kampala this 29}{\b\fs24\super\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 th}{ \b\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 day of January 2007. \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 \par }\pard\plain \s3\qc \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel2\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs28\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 L. E. M. Mukasa-Kikonyogo \par }\pard\plain \s1\qc \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\fs28\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 DEPUTY CHIEF JUSTICE \par }\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\b\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 \par S. G. Engwau \par }\pard\plain \s1\qc \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\fs28\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 JUSTICE OF APPEAL \par }\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\b\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 \par C. N. B. Kitumba \par }\pard\plain \s1\qc \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\fs28\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\fs24\insrsid15864746\charrsid15864746 JUSTICE OF APPEAL \par }}