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Man gets 68 years for infecting girl with HIV

By DAILY MONITOR February 12th, 2015 2 min read

The High Court in Masaka, Uganda has sentenced a 31-year-old man to 68-years in jail for defiling, impregnating and infecting a 15-year-old girl with HIV.

Court presided over by Justice Margaret Oumo Oguli heard that in January 2011 at Kibutamu village in Lwankoni Sub-county, Rakai district, Charles Kikulwe defiled the minor.

Prosecution led by Ms Anna Kiiza, adduced evidence that on the fateful day, the victim was going to school at around 8am and found the convict on the way. He then dragged her to the nearest bush and defiled her.

Ms Kiiza told court the victim tried to ask Kikulwe where he was taking her but he ordered her to keep quiet.

The victim was at the time a primary five pupil at Kibutamu Primary school. It is her teachers who noticed the pregnancy and informed her parents.

She was later taken to Kalisizo Referral Hospital and examined by Dr Grace Kyasiima. The doctor’s report indicated that the victim was 36 weeks pregnant. When she was asked who impregnated her, she revealed what had happened.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION

Kikulwe was later arrested and taken for a medical examination which revealed that he was HIV positive.

Prosecution presented five witnesses including the victim. Mr Edward Kyakuwa, the father of the victim, and the principal witness, told court the convict was his good friend and he never thought of him doing such a thing to his daughter.

Prosecution asked for a deterrent sentence stating that the convict had intentions of infecting the girl with HIV.

“The victim will forever carry the psychological and physical torture and the child that was born will always remain a constant reminder of the incident in her life,” Ms Kiiza added.

Mr Lawrence Yawe, who represented the defence asked court to consider the fact that the convict is a first time offender and the period of three years plus four months spent on remand.

In her ruling, Justice Oguli said Mr Kikulwe did not show court that he was remorseful and said needed to be punished for his behaviour.