Teen jailed 15 years for defiling 9-year-old girl in Kabarole
According to the prosecution, led by Harriet Adubango, the convict committed the offence on the night of March 19, 2025, when the victim was alone in the kitchen at her grandmother’s home.
Amanyire in the dock. (Photo by Jonan Tusingwire)
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FORT PORTAL — The High Court in Fort Portal has sentenced a 19-year-old man to 15 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to defiling a nine-year-old girl in Kabarole district.
Samuel Amanyire was last week charged before Justice Vincent Wagona with aggravated defilement, which he committed in Nyamirima zone, Rurama parish, Ruteete subcounty.
The court began hearing the case on April 23, 2026, during which Amanyire first denied the charges.
According to the prosecution, led by Harriet Adubango, the convict committed the offence on the night of March 19, 2025, when the victim was alone in the kitchen at her grandmother’s home.
Court documents indicate that Amanyire, who was working as a casual labourer for the family, entered the kitchen, threatened the child with a panga, pushed her to the floor and defiled her.
The prosecution further stated that he threatened to kill the child if she disclosed the incident, causing her to remain silent.
The state also told court that on March 22, 2025, at about 1:00 pm, Amanyire approached the child again after chasing away her younger sibling and took her into the grandmother’s house, where he defiled her for a second time.
The matter was reportedly discovered when the victim’s mother returned home at about 2:00 pm and found Amanyire in the act.
“I immediately raised an alarm on seeing them, and Amanyire, who was on top of the child, ran away,” the mother told court.
She further testified that at about 8:00 pm the same day, the suspect returned to the home and asked for forgiveness.
Amanyire, who had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, changed his plea to guilty when the matter returned to court for hearing before requesting the court to allow a plea bargain.
Ruth Ongom, the Justice Systems Associate at International Justice Mission, the organisation that represented the girl in court, welcomed the ruling, describing it as an important step in securing justice for the young victim.
“When the case came up, and he saw that we had brought all the witnesses, he decided to change his plea. We are happy for the ruling,” she said.