[2009] UGCA 6

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\fi-180\li6480\jclisttab\tx6480\lin6480 }{\listname ;}\listid841579453}}{\*\listoverridetable{\listoverride\listid841579453\listoverridecount0\ls1}}{\*\rsidtbl \rsid333258\rsid753009\rsid873407\rsid4267077\rsid4549516\rsid4802702\rsid4804691\rsid5594290 \rsid6887115\rsid8851962\rsid9119838\rsid9700706\rsid12066715\rsid12871056\rsid13592344\rsid13919459\rsid14158178\rsid14763932\rsid15814601\rsid16329502}{\*\generator Microsoft Word 11.0.5604;}{\info{\title THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA}{\author aejon} {\operator jchemeri}{\creatim\yr2009\mo3\dy25\hr14\min21}{\revtim\yr2009\mo3\dy25\hr14\min21}{\printim\yr2009\mo3\dy13\hr16\min51}{\version2}{\edmins0}{\nofpages6}{\nofwords1614}{\nofchars9205}{\nofcharsws10798}{\vern24689}}\paperw11906\paperh16838 \widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\noxlattoyen\expshrtn\noultrlspc\dntblnsbdb\nospaceforul\formshade\horzdoc\dgmargin\dghspace180\dgvspace180\dghorigin1800\dgvorigin1440\dghshow1\dgvshow1 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\chftnsepc \par }}\sectd \psz9\linemod5\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid4802702\sftnbj {\footer \pard\plain \s16\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tqc\tx4153\tqr\tx8306\pvpara\phmrg\posxc\posy0\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4549516 \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\field{\*\fldinst {\cs17\insrsid4802702 PAGE }}{\fldrslt {\cs17\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof\insrsid873407 1}}}{\cs17\insrsid4802702 \par }\pard \s16\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tqc\tx4153\tqr\tx8306\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid4802702 \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 \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid873407 \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\b\insrsid753009\charrsid873407 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \par \par IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA \par \par \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid873407 {\b\insrsid753009\charrsid873407 CORAM:\tab HON. JUSTICE A. TWINOMUJUNI, JA \par \tab \tab HON. JUSTICE C. N. B. KITUMBA, JA \par \tab \tab HON. JUSTICE C. K. BYAMUGISHA, JA \par \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid873407 {\b\ul\insrsid753009\charrsid873407 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.170 OF 2003 \par \par \par \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid873407 {\b\insrsid753009\charrsid873407 TIGO STEPHEN\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85. APPELLANT \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid873407 {\b\insrsid753009\charrsid873407 V E R S U S \par \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid873407 {\b\insrsid753009\charrsid873407 UGANDA\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85. RESPONDENT \par \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid873407 {\b\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 [Appeal from conviction and sentence of}{\b\insrsid14763932\charrsid873407 \par }{\b\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 the High Court of Mbale (Faith Mwondha)}{\b\insrsid14763932\charrsid873407 \par }{\b\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 dated 12/08/2003 in C. S. No.176 of 2006]}{\b\insrsid753009\charrsid873407 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid873407 {\b\insrsid753009\charrsid873407 \par }{\b\ul\insrsid753009\charrsid873407 \par }{\b\ul\insrsid14763932\charrsid873407 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid873407 {\b\ul\insrsid14763932\charrsid873407 JUDGME}{\b\ul\insrsid753009\charrsid873407 NT OF THE COURT: \par \par }{\insrsid753009\charrsid873407 This is an appeal from }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 the decision}{\insrsid13919459\charrsid873407 of the High Court of Ugan da sitting at Mbale in which the appellant was indicted and tried of the offence of defilement C/S 127(1) (now}{\insrsid9119838\charrsid873407 s.129(1) of the Penal Code Act. H}{\insrsid13919459\charrsid873407 e was convicted and sentenced}{ \insrsid9119838\charrsid873407 to l}{\insrsid13919459\charrsid873407 ife imprisonment. }{\insrsid753009\charrsid873407 \par }{\insrsid13919459\charrsid873407 \par The background to the case is that during the month of July 2001, the appellant was living with the grandmother of the victim, Nakyebega, (PW3). The victim, a girl then aged 6 years was living with PW3 and the appellant. She was a grandchild of PW3}{ \insrsid9700706\charrsid873407 ,}{\insrsid13919459\charrsid873407 fathered by her own son begotten with her former husband who had died sometime back. \par \par On the night of 21/7/2001 PW3 left her home at night to attend to her daughter who lived nearby and who }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 was}{\insrsid13919459\charrsid873407 in labour }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 pains. She}{ \insrsid13919459\charrsid873407 left the appellant and the victim Kadija Sharon (PW2) sleeping in her house. When she left, the appel lant removed the victim, took her to his bed and defiled her. She felt a lot of pain and made a loud cry. Her grandmother returned and knocked on the door but the appellant refused to open the }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 door}{ \insrsid13919459\charrsid873407 . She made a lot of loud noise and the appellant opened the }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 door}{\insrsid13919459\charrsid873407 . She found the appellant in the house and noticed that the victim did not have her knickers on. She wondered loudly whether the victim was going to urinate. The victim told her in }{\insrsid9119838\charrsid873407 the }{\insrsid13919459\charrsid873407 presence of the appellant that it was the appellant who remo ved her knickers and had just had sexual intercourse with her. At that point, the appellant was seated in the house. She could clearly see him with the help of a candle which she had left in the house and a }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 lantern}{ \insrsid13919459\charrsid873407 which she had retuned to the house with. When asked why he had removed his }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 grandchild\rquote s}{\insrsid13919459\charrsid873407 knickers, he replied that he had done nothing wrong. PW3 then examined the private parts of the victim whereupon the victim informed her that the appellant had}{\insrsid16329502\charrsid873407 used her knickers to clean her private parts. As she was still investigating, she was called to go and attend to her daughter who apparently had not yet delivered her child. When PW3 returned, she found the appellant had left the home. He disappeared for some days but as the matter had already be en reported to the police he was subsequently arrested, indicted, convicted and sentenced as aforesaid. He was not satisfied with both conviction and sentence, hence this appeal. \par \par The appeal is based on four grounds of appeal as follows:- \par \par {\listtext\pard\plain\b\insrsid16329502\charrsid873407 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 1.\tab}}\pard \qj \fi-360\li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid873407 { \b\insrsid16329502\charrsid873407 That the learned trial judge erred in law when she charged and based her conviction on a non}{\b\insrsid14763932\charrsid873407 existent section of the Penal Code A}{\b\insrsid16329502\charrsid873407 ct. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\b\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 2.\tab}}{\b\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 That}{\b\insrsid16329502\charrsid873407 the learned trial judge }{\b\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 erred}{ \b\insrsid16329502\charrsid873407 in fact and law when she failed to adequately evaluate the evidence to sustain a charge of defilement. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\b\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 3.\tab}}{\b\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 That}{\b\insrsid16329502\charrsid873407 the learned trial judge }{\b\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 erred}{ \b\insrsid16329502\charrsid873407 in fact and law when she based her conviction on a single witness\rquote s evidence which was not corroborated. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\b\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 4.\tab}}{\b\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 In}{\b\insrsid16329502\charrsid873407 the alternative that, in the circumstances, the sentence was excessively harsh. \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid873407 {\b\insrsid16329502\charrsid873407 \par }{\insrsid16329502\charrsid873407 At the hearing of the appeal, Ms Luswata Kawuma}{\insrsid14763932\charrsid873407 appeared for the appellant on S}{\insrsid16329502\charrsid873407 tate brief. Mr. }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 Charles}{ \insrsid16329502\charrsid873407 }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 Ngabirano}{\insrsid14763932\charrsid873407 , a Principal State A}{\insrsid16329502\charrsid873407 ttorney in the office of the DPP }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 appeared}{ \insrsid16329502\charrsid873407 for the respondent. Ms Luswata Kawuma decided to abandon the first ground of appeal. She argued grounds No.2 & 3 together and ground No.4 }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 separately}{\insrsid16329502\charrsid873407 . The gist of grounds 2 and 3 is that the learned trial judge failed to evaluate the evidence before her properly as a result of which she wrongly held that }{\insrsid4804691\charrsid873407 the two ingredients of the offence, namely, sexual intercours e and participation of the appellant had been proved.}{\insrsid16329502\charrsid873407 \par }{\insrsid4804691\charrsid873407 \par }{\insrsid14763932\charrsid873407 On sexual intercourse M}{\insrsid4804691\charrsid873407 s Luswata Kawuma submitted that the prosecution had failed to prove that penetration of a female sexual organ by a male sexual organ had occurred. The victim was found to have her hymen intact and there was no other evidence to corroborate the }{ \insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 victim\rquote s}{\insrsid4804691\charrsid873407 evidence }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 that}{\insrsid4804691\charrsid873407 sexual intercourse had}{\insrsid333258\charrsid873407 actually occurred.}{ \insrsid4804691\charrsid873407 \par }{\insrsid333258\charrsid873407 \par On participation of the appellant in the alleged commission of the crime, Ms Kawuma submitted it was not proved that the victim had prior knowledge of the appellant. }{\insrsid14763932\charrsid873407 Sh}{\insrsid333258\charrsid873407 e contended that the grandmother of the victim had another man living in the house and since the }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 offence}{\insrsid333258\charrsid873407 was committed in the middle of the night, the other man could have committed the offence. \par \par Mr. }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 Charles}{\insrsid333258\charrsid873407 }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 Ngabirano}{\insrsid333258\charrsid873407 did not agree with the appellant\rquote s attack on the }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 trial}{ \insrsid333258\charrsid873407 judge. He supported the conviction of the appellant and the sentence mated out to him. \par \par On the issue of penetration, he submitted that the doctor had found injuries around the victim\rquote s }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 sexual}{\insrsid333258\charrsid873407 organ which was enough proof that sexual intercourse had taken place. He submitted that in law, it was not necessary that the victims hymen be }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 ruptured}{\insrsid333258\charrsid873407 as long as there was proof that there was some penetration}{\insrsid4802702\charrsid873407 ,}{\insrsid9700706\charrsid873407 however}{\insrsid333258\charrsid873407 slight. The victim herself testi fied that she felt a lot of pain in her private parts which was proof that }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 penetration}{\insrsid333258\charrsid873407 had taken place. \par \par On participation of the appellant, }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 Mr}{\insrsid333258\charrsid873407 . Ngabirano submitted that the appellant was a husband to the }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 victim\rquote s}{\insrsid333258\charrsid873407 grandmother. They all lived in the same house and the victim had known him for years. There was light in the house before the offence started. PW3 found the appellant in the house when she returned and the }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 appellant}{ \insrsid9700706\charrsid873407 could not explain wh}{\insrsid333258\charrsid873407 y he had removed the victims knickers. All these proved tha t it was the appellant who defiled the victim. He invited us to reject, as the trial judge did, the alibi set up by the appellant, which was false and to dismiss the appeal and uphold the sentence. \par \par It is the duty of this court to re-evaluate all the evidence that was adduced before the trial court and to determine by itself whether the conviction by that court should be supported by this court. See }{\b\ul\insrsid9119838\charrsid873407 Rule}{ \b\ul\insrsid8851962\charrsid873407 30 of the Court of Appeal Rules. }{\insrsid8851962\charrsid873407 In so doing this court must bear in mind the fact that it did not have the opportunity, which the trial court had, to see the witnesses give }{ \insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 evidence}{\insrsid8851962\charrsid873407 in court and to assess their credibility. A conviction should not be set aside merely because had this court been the trial court, it would have acquitted the appellant. Th is court should only do so when it is satisfied that because of some act or omission on the part of the trial court, an injustice has been occasioned. }{\insrsid333258\charrsid873407 \par }{\insrsid8851962\charrsid873407 \par On the issue of penetration the }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 learned}{\insrsid8851962\charrsid873407 trial judge relied on the evidence of PW2, the victim of the d efilement, and PW1, the doctor who examined her four days after the incident. Though PW2 was only eight years at the time of the incident, she greatly impressed the trial judge by her straight forwardness and her consistency. The girl said that the appe llant had sexual intercourse with her and she felt }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 great}{\insrsid8851962\charrsid873407 pain. As a result she raised a loud cry which forced her grandmother who was some distance away to return home to her }{ \insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 rescue}{\insrsid8851962\charrsid873407 . She also said this was not the first time the appellant was doing this}{\insrsid15814601\charrsid873407 .}{\insrsid8851962\charrsid873407 \par }{\insrsid15814601\charrsid873407 \par PW1}{\insrsid9700706\charrsid873407 ,}{\insrsid15814601\charrsid873407 the medical doctor testified }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 that}{\insrsid15814601\charrsid873407 on examination of PW2, he found her hymen}{\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 intact, but there were injuries or inflammation around the private parts. These injuries }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 were}{\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 4 days old. The doctor was closely }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 cross}{ \insrsid9700706\charrsid873407 -examined o}{\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 n the issue of penetration. This is how he responded:}{\insrsid15814601\charrsid873407 \par }{\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 \par }\pard \qj \li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid873407 {\b\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 \'93 The injury could have been caused by a person desiring having sexual intercourse forcefully or a child can injure herself if she falls on her self. }{\b\ul\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 The most probable cause is sexual }{ \b\ul\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 intercourse}{\b\ul\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 . }{\b\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 \par \par The hymen was not }{\b\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 ruptured}{\b\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 or injured. }{\b\ul\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 It really }{\b\ul\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 depends;}{\b\ul\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 it could have been that there was sexual }{\b\ul\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 intercourse}{\b\ul\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 . Sexual intercourse can be done by touching}{\b\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 .\'94}{\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 [Emphasis is ours]}{\b\ul\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 \par }{\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid873407 {\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 \par The doctor seems to have }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 formed}{\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 the impression that some form of sexual intercourse took place and he re commended that the victim should take an HIV/AIDS test. We are of the view that, despite the fact that the }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 victim\rquote s}{\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 hymen was not yet }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 ruptured}{ \insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 , there is strong evidence on record from which an inference should be made that penetration that is necessary to deserve an act being called sexual intercourse}{\insrsid9700706\charrsid873407 ,}{ \insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 did actually take place. The injuries found on her vagina could }{\insrsid9119838\charrsid873407 not possibly occur in the contex}{\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 t of this incident without some amount of penetration taking place. It is trite that }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 rupturing}{\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 the }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 hymen}{\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 is n ot a necessary part of legal sexual intercourse. Penetration, however slight, is sufficient. This ground of appeal should fail. \par \par Regarding participation by the appellant, there is sufficient evidence on record }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 that}{\insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 the victim (PW2) knew the appellant ver y well. In fact, in his defence, the appellant said he knew her well and he in fact called her his granddaughter. He said he stayed with her for four years. Therefore, the question of mistaken identity does}{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 not arise. The appellant in his defence raise d two other matters. First, that his wife had found another man and since she was desirous to chase him out of her home, she concocted a story which she coached PW2 to cram and testify against him as a result of a grudge. Yet the evidence on record does not bear out this grudge. It is to the effect that at that time of the incident, the appellant and PW3 were living together as husband and wife. If they were not, the appellant would not have had so easy access to the victim. The learned tria}{ \insrsid4802702\charrsid873407 l judge found the evidence of PW2 and PW}{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 3 on this matter preferable and he was so entitled to hold. The appellant raised another defence to the effect that on the night of the incident, he did }{\insrsid9700706\charrsid873407 not }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 spent the night at the home of PW3. He claimed he stayed at his seco nd home in a place called Samasyi. The learned trial judge rejected this defence of alibi as an afterthought. In light of the credible evidence of PW2 and PW3, we do not fault the finding of the learned trial judge that the offence of defilement against PW2 Hadija Sharon took place at her home on the night of 21}{\super\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 st}{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 July 2001 and it was the appellant who committed the crime. This ground of appeal should also fail.}{ \insrsid12871056\charrsid873407 \par }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 \par On the fourth ground of appeal, that the sentence was to harsh, we were }{\insrsid9700706\charrsid873407 not given any single reason }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 to justify us to have mercy on a 45 years old man who decided to defile an 8 years old girl whom he calls his granddaughter. The learned trial judge took into account all mitigating factors available to the appellant }{\insrsid9119838\charrsid873407 and passed a sentence of life i}{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 mprisonment. We see no reason to disturb that sentence. \par In the result, this appeal is accordingly dismissed for lack of merit. \par }{\insrsid12066715\charrsid873407 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid873407 {\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 Dated at Kampala this}{\insrsid12066715\charrsid873407 23}{\super\insrsid12066715\charrsid873407 rd}{ \insrsid12066715\charrsid873407 }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 day of }{\insrsid12066715\charrsid873407 March }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 2009. \par Hon. Justice Amos Twinomujuni \par }{\b\ul\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 JUSTICE OF APPEAL. \par }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 \par Hon. Justice C. N. B. Kitumba \par }{\b\ul\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 JUSTICE OF APPEAL. \par }{\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 \par Hon. Justice C. K. Byamugisha \par }{\b\ul\insrsid4267077\charrsid873407 JUSTICE OF APPEAL. \par }}