Defilement: Case of suspected councilor sparks off protests

Jafari Mubiru, the district councillor accused of defiling a 13-year-old student. (Picture by Davis Buyondo)

CRIME

RAKAI - The delayed prosecution of Jafari Mubiru, the district councilor representing Ddwaniro sub-county, who is accused of defiling a 13-year-old girl, has sparked off protests from family members and residents in Rakai district.

The girl's family and other residents are demanding for Mubiru's transfer from Kyotera Police Station, to Rakai, from where he allegedly committed the crime, so as he can be tried in court.

The victim is a Senior one student at Buyamba Church of Uganda Ssenior School. She went missing from her parents' home in Kagoye village on Friday only to be found in a lodge with the councilor.

David Kasiita, the girl's father appealed to Police to expedite the process for justice. He explained that releasing Mubiru on bond may interfere or influence investigations. 

According to Bibiana Akongo, the Officer in Charge of Criminal Investigations, Kyotera Police, the process is ongoing and the file has already been sent to the state attorney for perusal.

She explained that Mubiru will be produced in court once the file returns from the state, appealing to the aggrieved family members to remain calm.

Akongo also stated that there were a few delays which were as a result of state attorney's office not having the victim's birth certificate. However, the birth certificate was later produced by the victim's family.

The detectives close to the case argue that granting the councilor bond may interfere with ongoing investigations. The case is being investigated on Criminal Register file-CRR 087/2018.