Defiler gets 14 years after pleading guilty to assaulting 13-Year-Old

LIRA - In a case that underscores the rising tide of sexual offences against children in the Lango sub-region, a 35-year-old man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after he admitted to defiling a 13-year-old girl.

On Thursday (July 24, 2025) while appearing before Lady Justice Sarah Birungi Kalibbala at the High Court sitting in Lira district, Robert Ayo pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated defilement, contrary to Section 129 (3) and (4) of the Penal Code Act, now revised as Section 116 (3) and (4) of the Penal Code Act, Cap. 120.

Prosecution led by Anthony Obonyo Jabwor had told Court that on August 29, 2020, at Adyang Opiro village in Lira District, Ayo took advantage of a 13-year-old girl.

Prosecutors listed the aggravating factors to include: the victim’s tender age, the significant age gap between the two, and the severe trauma inflicted on her.

They argued that such crimes are rampant in the community and called for a deterrent sentence.

“The offence is serious and, by law, attracts a death sentence. It is important to protect young girls from such predatory acts,” the State submitted.

Mitigation

Defence counsel Hope Abeja and Samuel Odyek had told court that Ayo was a first-time offender who showed remorse and had saved the court’s time by entering a guilty plea. 

The court was informed that he is a father of four children, the eldest aged 15.
Court heard that while Ayo was on remand, his wife died in a motor accident, leaving the children without parental care.

Defence prayed for a lenient sentence that would allow Ayo to return home sooner to look after his children, pointing out that he had demonstrated efforts to reform while in prison.

Ayo, in his own words, asked for forgiveness from both the victim and her family, vowing never to repeat the offence.

The Judge’s decision

In her sentencing remarks, Lady Justice Kalibbala said she had considered both the seriousness of the offence and the mitigation factors.

“I have taken note of the need for the convict to take care of his children following the death of their mother, his plea of guilt without wasting court’s time, and his expression of remorse,” she said. 

“However, I must also consider the trauma caused to the 13-year-old girl, the wide age difference between the victim and the convict, and the need to protect young girls from such inhuman acts.”

The judge imposed a 14-year prison term, deducting the 4 years, 10 months and 16 days Ayo had already spent on remand. He will therefore serve nine years, one month and 14 days.

Rising cases in Lango

Aggravated defilement continues to dominate High Court sessions in the Lango sub-region.

During the recent special plea bargain camp held in Lira from 25 June 2025, judges handled 73 cases of aggravated defilement out of 210 cases cause-listed. 

Murder cases followed with 56, then rape (39) and aggravated robbery (31), most of them involving young offenders.