Defiler destroys girl’s life
May 08, 2010
PETER Sebiina, 26, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison but the girl he defiled when she was seven months old is in misery. Her genitals were so badly damaged that she now cannot control the flow of urine. And after the incident, she was abandoned by her mother.
By Gladys Kalibbala
PETER Sebiina, 26, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison but the girl he defiled when she was seven months old is in misery.
Her genitals were so badly damaged that she now cannot control the flow of urine. And after the incident, she was abandoned by her mother. Her grandmother took her in but unfortunately she a couple of years later. Now the girl is being looked after by her maternal aunt.
The little girl’s road to misery started about four years ago, soon after she was born. Her mother, Prossy Migamba, was living with her husband on an island on Lake Victoria. One day, in a domestic fight, Migamba was cut with a panga. Thinking she was dead, her husband fled. Migamba then moved to Nalukolongo, Kampala with her baby and settled in a muzigo (one-roomed house).
On September 16, 2006, Migamba left the baby in the room and went to dispose of rubbish. When she returned a few minutes later, her door was locked from inside. The baby could not have bolted the door. It could only have been a grown up; and a stranger.
Migamba immediately made an alarm. Neighbours gathered and broke the door. They could not believe what they saw. Peter Sebiina, a casual labourer in Nalukolongo market, was defiling the seven-month-old baby! The baby was bleeding badly, had become unconscious and her genitals were shattered. The mob descended on the man and beat him up, but the Police intervened and took him to Nateete Police Station.
The baby was rushed to Rubaga Hospital where she was stitched.
Soon after the incident Migamba disappeared leaving the baby with her mother, Yunis Mudondo. At Rubaga hospital Mudondo took care of her granddaughter until she was discharged.
Mudondo pursued the case in court but unfortunately she died in 2007 before court made a ruling. When the old woman died, the child was left with her aunt, Namafafa, who had just turned 17. Because she could not afford to take care of the child, Namafafa took her to Mudondo’s sister, an old woman, in Busolwe, Butaleja district.
Before Namafafa took the girl to Busolwe, an NGO, Uganda Transparency, was taking care of the girl’s family and following up the court case.
The week when the judgement was made, the NGO traced the girl and her mother, Migamba. Their presence was necessary in court if the defiler was to be convicted.
Migamba is now married in Mayuge district, and has two other children. She went back to Mayuge after the court case, saying she had no money to treat the girl.
Today, the girl cannot control her urine and faecal flow.
Namafafa said doctors at Rubaga Hospital had advised that the girl will require an operation to correct the problem. They later referred her to Mulago Hospital, where the girl is on the waiting list for an operation.
Namafafa said that although the operation will be free of charge, she cannot afford the maintenance costs for the two months the girl will be in hospital.
Namafafa who has a two-year-old son despite being a teenager, is a waitress in a restaurant in Nalukolongo.
This situation brings to light a fundamental problem in dealing with defilement cases. Whereas the justice system provides for punishment of the defiler, the victim is usually left on their own.
Their interaction with the state tends to be limited to providing evidence against the offender, leaving their welfare in the hands of God.
However, youth and children affairs state minister Jessica Alupo Epel said the community development officers should follow up such cases.
“These officers are expected to carry out screening at the district level and send their findings to head office,†she explained, adding that because of the presence of universal primary and secondary education, the gender ministry only caters for treatment, uniforms and food.
PETER Sebiina, 26, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison but the girl he defiled when she was seven months old is in misery.
Her genitals were so badly damaged that she now cannot control the flow of urine. And after the incident, she was abandoned by her mother. Her grandmother took her in but unfortunately she a couple of years later. Now the girl is being looked after by her maternal aunt.
The little girl’s road to misery started about four years ago, soon after she was born. Her mother, Prossy Migamba, was living with her husband on an island on Lake Victoria. One day, in a domestic fight, Migamba was cut with a panga. Thinking she was dead, her husband fled. Migamba then moved to Nalukolongo, Kampala with her baby and settled in a muzigo (one-roomed house).
On September 16, 2006, Migamba left the baby in the room and went to dispose of rubbish. When she returned a few minutes later, her door was locked from inside. The baby could not have bolted the door. It could only have been a grown up; and a stranger.
Migamba immediately made an alarm. Neighbours gathered and broke the door. They could not believe what they saw. Peter Sebiina, a casual labourer in Nalukolongo market, was defiling the seven-month-old baby! The baby was bleeding badly, had become unconscious and her genitals were shattered. The mob descended on the man and beat him up, but the Police intervened and took him to Nateete Police Station.
The baby was rushed to Rubaga Hospital where she was stitched.
Soon after the incident Migamba disappeared leaving the baby with her mother, Yunis Mudondo. At Rubaga hospital Mudondo took care of her granddaughter until she was discharged.
Mudondo pursued the case in court but unfortunately she died in 2007 before court made a ruling. When the old woman died, the child was left with her aunt, Namafafa, who had just turned 17. Because she could not afford to take care of the child, Namafafa took her to Mudondo’s sister, an old woman, in Busolwe, Butaleja district.
Before Namafafa took the girl to Busolwe, an NGO, Uganda Transparency, was taking care of the girl’s family and following up the court case.
The week when the judgement was made, the NGO traced the girl and her mother, Migamba. Their presence was necessary in court if the defiler was to be convicted.
Migamba is now married in Mayuge district, and has two other children. She went back to Mayuge after the court case, saying she had no money to treat the girl.
Today, the girl cannot control her urine and faecal flow.
Namafafa said doctors at Rubaga Hospital had advised that the girl will require an operation to correct the problem. They later referred her to Mulago Hospital, where the girl is on the waiting list for an operation.
Namafafa said that although the operation will be free of charge, she cannot afford the maintenance costs for the two months the girl will be in hospital.
Namafafa who has a two-year-old son despite being a teenager, is a waitress in a restaurant in Nalukolongo.
This situation brings to light a fundamental problem in dealing with defilement cases. Whereas the justice system provides for punishment of the defiler, the victim is usually left on their own.
Their interaction with the state tends to be limited to providing evidence against the offender, leaving their welfare in the hands of God.
However, youth and children affairs state minister Jessica Alupo Epel said the community development officers should follow up such cases.
“These officers are expected to carry out screening at the district level and send their findings to head office,†she explained, adding that because of the presence of universal primary and secondary education, the gender ministry only caters for treatment, uniforms and food.