Residents drag Imam to Police over defilement

KAMPALA-Residents of Jambula in Kawempe Division have dragged Abdallah Kafeero, an Imam, to police accusing him of attempting to defile a 16-year-old girl.

According to the deputy spokesperson Kampala Metropolitan police, Luke Owoyesigire, on January 17, 2020, the residents led by their village security leader, told police that they caught the Muslim faith leader pants down preparing to defile the young girl.

"We recorded the case and recorded statements from both the victim and the suspect. From the girl's statement, we discovered that indeed the faith leader had asked for sex from the girl and was preparing to defile her, although nothing happened," he said.

He explained that Kafeero was caught by the locals with his pants down as he was preparing to have sex with the juvenile.

He said police has gathered evidence and since there was no penetration, they await the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide whether there is a case to warrant the suspect to be charged in court or whether there is no case so he can be set free.

"According to the report we received, he was caught pants down. Whether he had done the act or attempted to defile, it is the state to decide.  But we have gathered the relevant evidence that is needed for the case to go on," he said.

Despite the presence of laws and policies on defilement in Uganda, the Police annual report 2018 indicates a high rise in defilement cases. The report indicates that in 2018, 15,366 cases of defilement were recorded as compared to the 14,985 cases in 2017.

Braggart thief beaten

Owoyesigire, who was speaking to journalists at the police headquarters Naguru on Monday, also revealed that one of the thieves, Henry kasirye, who had been terroriSing the community in Lugala, irked the residents when he started bragging about his escapades at night.

He said the locals descended on the 23-year-old and beat him to a near death. Police arrived at the nick of time and saved him. The incident took place on January 17, 2020.

"The Police later on realiesd that they had been looking for the gentleman. He was on our wanted list. The Police in Lugala also has five cases in which Kasirye has been reportedly involved in, three robberies and threatening violence," he said.

He said the suspect is in a critical condition, though receiving treatment under the supervision of Police.

Collapsed Jinja building

Polly Namaye, the police deputy spokesperson, revealed that the death toll from the storey building that collapsed in Jinja last week has risen to five.

The deceased were identified as; Joseph Isabirye, 24, a resident of Buhuma village in Butagaya Sub-county, Denis Muhofa, 29, a and resident of Walukuba East, Saidi Balaba and Akiram , 22, a residents of Kabowa village Budondo sub county, all casual laborers. The fifth person is yet to be identified.

The two-floor storey building located on Plot 17 Gokhale Road caved in on Wednesday at around 5:00pm. it's believed about 37 people were on the site during the time of the incident. 12 people were rushed to the hospital and eight were critically injured, they are receiving treatment from Jinja Hospital.

Namaye said the site engineer and supervisor are currently on the run.

"We want to find out if those people who were managing the constructions themselves are qualified. So we will do that as soon as we arrest or as soon as they hand themselves in," she said.