FIDA to prosecute Mbarara defiler

Jan 07, 2009

THE Uganda Association of Women Lawyers, FIDA, plans to drag a Mbarara resident to court over attempted defilement.

By Catherine Bekunda

THE Uganda Association of Women Lawyers, FIDA, plans to drag a Mbarara resident to court over attempted defilement.

Godfrey Mugarura allegedly attempted to defile Angelina Kyomugisha’s 10-year-old daughter as she was weeding her plantation in June last year.

She rushed to her daughter’s rescue after she heard her scream, chopped off Mugarura’s penis and threw it into a nearby bush.

The court, however, acquitted Kyomugisha of the charge of causing bodily harm.

“We are happy our client has won the case but this will not deter us from seeking justice,” said Maria Nassali, the FIDA chief executive officer.

“We want courts’ interpretation on what amounts to sexual offences because our laws are insufficient in protecting children against sexual violence,” she said.

“In Uganda, defilement and rape only occurs when there has been penetration of genital organs, yet other people use sticks, bottles and other instruments to abuse children,” Nassali lamented.

When there is no penetration, she said, it is considered simple assault and this trivialises cases which affect children for the rest of their lives.

Nassali cited Tanzania and Kenya, which she said had clear laws on sexual offences. FIDA stood surety for Kyomugisha after she was charged but also treated Mugarura.

In an exclusive interview at her offices in Kamwokya, Nassali said FIDA had carried out community dialogue in Rugyere village in Kashari county where the two hail from.

The project, funded by DFID, a British development agency, was aimed at sensitising residents about sexual violence and how they can fight it.

“Kyomugisha acted in the heat of passion like any mother would have done considering that Mugarura was not a first-time offender,” Nassali said.

She noted that many cases of defilement are rampant in Mbarara but the suspects had not been prosecuted due to insufficient evidence.

Nassali added that many defilement cases had stalled because young children cannot describe their ordeal and medical examinations are done late.

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