_____________

The general court martial in Makindye has convicted a UPDF officer for defilement.

While convicting Aleni, court relied on evidence of four prosecution witnesses including the victim who all testified against Cpl. Patrick Aleni.

State witnesses included the victim (a 14 year old girl), her father, Maj. Boaz Muganza the arresting officer and Dr Yokosofat Kimeze who examined the victim.

Cpl. Aleni Patrick committed the offence at 2300hrs while at PTS -Training College Ssingo where he had gone for training.

The victim is a 14 year old girl, daughter of one of the military staff at the College.  
Court noted that the victim had trust in the convict and the whole family used to call him uncle thus betrayed her trust in him.

Aleni committed the offence when he went to the victim's home to charge his cellphone at night. The victim's parents were staying in a different house.

After committing offence, prosecution proved that Aleni fled from the college. He was, however, arrested five days later, located after his cellphone was tracked.

In his defence Aleni maintained that his innocence that he never had sex with the said victim and placed the allegations on land wrangles in his ancestral home. Both Aleni and the victims' parent hail from the same village.

However, the Chairman of the General Court Martial Brig. Freeman Robert Mugabe, said that court was convinced that Aleni commited the offence relying on prosecution evidence.

In mitigation, Lt. Alex Mukwana for prosecution, told court that the convict is first offender with no past criminal record, but the offence is rampant, he wasted courts time and state resources when he denied the offence well knowing he committed the offence.

Mukwana added that the convict betrayed the victim who called him uncle and trusted him as a relative and requested court to give a deterrent sentence to deter would be offenders from committing the same crime.

Defence lawyer Capt. Simon Nsubuga Busagwa urged the court to give a lenient sentence to Aleni saying  that the father of four has faithfully served the country for 18 years.

Capt. Nsubuga asked the court to consider the three years and eight months he has spent on remand as his sentence.

The offence is contrary to section 129(3) and (4) (a) of the Penal Code Act cap 120.
Court remanded him to December 18, 2023 for a sentence.