[1996] UGHC 16
The accused pleaded guilty to defilement and sodomy of his own daughter, a minor under 18 years, after overwhelming evidence was presented. The court considered the gravity of the offence, the accused's plea of guilty, his remorse, and the two years spent on remand. While the maximum penalty is death, the court...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [1996] UGHC 16
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Uganda; Defendant: Njunwaya Yowasi
- Court
- High Court of Uganda
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Case Number
- Criminal Case 491 of 1993
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Case / Sentencing Judgment
- Outcome
- convicted and sentenced
- Judges
- Mukanza, J
- Legal Topics
- Defilement of Minor, Sodomy, Sentencing Guidelines, Plea of Guilty
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Uganda
Plaintiff
Njunwaya Yowasi
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Criminal Case / Sentencing Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the accused is guilty of defilement of a girl under 18 years contrary to section 123(1) of the Penal Code.
- 2 Appropriate sentence for the accused given the plea of guilty and mitigating circumstances.
Ratio Decidendi
The accused pleaded guilty to defilement and sodomy of his own daughter, a minor under 18 years, after overwhelming evidence was presented. The court considered the gravity of the offence, the accused's plea of guilty, his remorse, and the two years spent on remand. While the maximum penalty is death, the court exercised discretion not to impose it, instead opting for a custodial sentence of eight years imprisonment. The prevalence of such offences in the area and the need for deterrence were also taken into account. The court found that the accused's admission and circumstances warranted a sentence less than the maximum, balancing punishment, deterrence, and the potential for reform.
Court Disposition
convicted and sentenced
Orders
- The accused is convicted of defilement of a girl under 18 years contrary to section 123(1) of the Penal Code.
- The accused is sentenced to 8 years imprisonment.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
27 paragraphs
### REPUBLIC OP UGANDA
### IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA
#### HOLDEN AT MASAKA
## CRIMINAL CASE NO, I<A 491 /93 CRD 377/93
UGANDA: sPLAINTIFF
. VERSUS.
NJUNWAYA YOWASI: s::::::::::::::::::::::::::;:::::::::::::ACCUSED BEFORE: <sup>T</sup>HE HONOURABLE MR, JUSTICE I. MUKANZA.
# JUDGMENT:
### REASONS FOR SENTENCE:
Court: Charge read over and explained to the accused person.
Accused states: It is true I had an unlawful carnal knowledge of Kangoma Juliet a girl under the age of 18 years\*
Count a plea of guilt entered.
Facts : Ch 12th July 1993 this accused person returned to his home at dusk whereupon he picked a quarrel with his wife called Kyohire Denis\* The wife ran aray and left the three children behind namely Kongoma Juliet then aged <sup>12</sup> years, Muchuguzi Zorohe aged 10 and an infant called Kyalisima. The accused then summoned his elder duaghter Kangoma to his bed between 10.00 and 11.00 p,m. The accused went on to have sex with this young girl and also had sex contrary to the order of nature. He sodomised her. The girl made an.alarm which was answered by the mother. Then they proceeded to the home of RCs where those people slept for the night the following day the accused was arrested and forwarded to police of Kawentunga. The girl was examined by Doctor who found that the gir? sodomised and ravished.
Court: Facts put to the accused, person. Accused says: These facts are true and. correct I sodomisod the girl and
also defiled her. She was below 18 years.
Court\* The accused person is convictt d of t.ie offence of defilement of a girl under <sup>18</sup> years conti iry to section 123(1) of penal code and this is entire<sup>1</sup> *<sup>r</sup>* upon his own plea of guilty.
Mr\* Ogwal<sup>i</sup> This is <sup>a</sup> very sad. case in ■which it is difficult to believe that the acccsod was human being\* It has been the prosecutions case to seek a death sentence but the accused, has saved, courts time by pleading guilty so the prosecution I would, pray for life iniprisorient\* We are bit applying for a death sentence\* He has served the court time. Ho is a first offender. However offences of this nature are common here and this calls for a deterrant punishment\*
A
Mr\* NyanzixThis is a serious offence and I cannot condone it\* The accused should not be sentenced to death\* However I pray for a sentence less than death sentence, life sentence in for all practical purposes is like death penalty\* Please take into account that the accused has pleaded guilty and is very repentant\*
Accused says <sup>a</sup> I will never do such <sup>a</sup> thing it is alcohol which made do authorise\* Mr\* Nyanzi: Accused is aged <sup>45</sup> has spent on remand for 2^ years and inspite
> of everything the complainant is one of his children what he suffers is also suffered by the children\* It is human nature to reform given the opportunity ho can reform\* It is human to error\* I touch on length his plea from the evidence an record and his own admission\* The convict before you was very drank. The alcohol on human being is very serious. <sup>A</sup> person may drink and the alcohol controls him\* I have found out from the interviews I conducted that that is why my learned friend did not understand him\* I pray that he be given custodial sentence short of life inpriscament and be given supervisory period by the police after his release so I pray.
### REASONS KR
The accused person pleaded guilty to the indictment after PW1 had led evidence which evidence show overwhelming that he did commit the said atrocious crime\* I an of the view that he changed the plea at the right time\* *By so doing* he saved this court the expenses of trying him\* The court did also consider the fact that he has been on remand for a period of 2 years. But committed a very serious offence when he defiled his own daughter\* The maximum punishment for persons convicted of this offence is death penalty\* I do not however intend to impose the death penalty\* I noted from the RSA that offences of this nature are prevalent in this area\*
r 2 i
SENTENCE; , The accused, is sentenced to <sup>8</sup> years imprisonment R/<sup>a</sup> Explained\*
<sup>&</sup>gt; 3 :
JUDGE 5.1 <19%.