60-year-old father, son arrested for rape, defilement

Police  on Wednesday rushed to Kayijja, Buwunga sub-county to rescue a man and his son from a mob that wanted to lynch them for alleged rape and defilement.

The suspects are Godfrey Kiyimba, 60 and Vincent Sserwadda, 30, currently detained at Masaka Central Police station.

Kiyimba is said to have defiled a 13-year-old girl (P.2 pupil) on Sunday while Sserwadda raped and impregnated a mentally incapacitated woman (in her 20s).

The torched shrine

According to Edward Kisekka, the Kayijja LCI chairperson, Kiyimba lured the girl to his shrine where he defiled her on Sunday.

He went in hiding shortly after the incident. However, the girl reported to her parents who informed other residents and local council authorities.

Already, Kisekka said, residents were boiling in fury over an earlier incident where Kiyimba's son (Sserwadda) raped the mentally incapacitated woman, now seven months pregnant.

Consequently, a mob stormed their home and torched the shrine, destroyed a banana plantation, killed and looted several livestock.

They further pursued the suspects whom they rounded and beat up before Police arrived.

Kiyimba denied defiling the girl while Sserwadda declined to comment on the matter. Police whisked them away on a patrol vehicle.

Henry Kintu, the Masaka district Police commander (DPC), confirmed the incident saying they are still investigating the case.

He said that charges of rape and defilement will be preferred against them.