KABALE – Four people accused of gang-defiling a 13-year-old girl in Kabale district on Christmas Day were, on Monday charged and remanded.
According to particulars, the accused persons – including Davis Akankwasa Kehoda, Allan Akanyijuka, Moses Sendarera Tumukunde, and Norman Ahumuza Kanuma – all residents of Kasheregyenyi parish, Kamuganguzi sub-county in Kabale district, on December 25, 2022, at around 8:00pm allegedly defiled the minor at Nyakasharara trading centre in Kyarugondo village.
The victim was defiled until she became unconscious. She was rushed to Kabale regional referral hospital but died on arrival.
The accused were arrested a day after the incident and arraigned in court on several charges on Monday afternoon.
Appearing before the Grade One Magistrates’ Court, the suspects were charged with murder contrary to section 189 and defilement contrary to section 123 (l) of the Penal Code Act.
Her worship Rachael Tabaruka- the Kabale Grade One Magistrate notified the accused persons not enter any plea arguing that the magnitude of the case was capital and therefore beyond her jurisdiction.
She said that the case could only be heard by the High Court – remanding the trio of Ahumuza, Akankwasa, and Akanyijuka to Ndorwa government prison. While Tumukunde was remanded to Kabale remand home on the basis that he is still a juvenile who needed rehabilitation.
The suspects will re-appear before the court on February 7, this year.
Elias Twesigomwe – the Kamuganguzi sub county LCIII chairman noted that the incident of gang-defiling was the first in his area.
70-Year-old Locked-up over Granddaughter’s Death
Meanwhile in Namisindwa – The Police are holding a 70-year-old, John Wandabwa – a resident of Bukikai village in Tabino parish, Bukiabi sub-county in Namisindwa district on suspicion of raping and murdering his nine-year-old granddaughter.
The minor’s maternal uncle, Stephen Marutu, said that the suspect had been staying with the girl for two years since her father, Alex Wandabwa left for Kenya in search of work.
According to Marutu, the suspects is said to have convinced the minor over the weekend to join him in grazing goats in the bush.
It is alleged that while in the bush, the suspect raped the minor before strangling her to death – dumping her body in the wilderness.
One of the area residents who preferred anonymity said that he with other locals discovered the minor’s naked body on Monday morning – alerting the police.
The source explained that when police examined the body – it was discovered that the minor had been raped before her neck was twisted. Namisindwa deputy Resident District Commissioner, Julie Namara said that Wandabwa had confessed to the gruesome act before he was locked up awaiting prosecution.
Swangiye Nabunya – the Namisindwa District Police Commander, confirmed the incident describing it unfortunate – adding that the minor’s body had been transferred to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital for a post-mortem.
