Father Receives 30-Year Sentence For Transmitting HIV To 15-Year-Old Own Daughter

Balutwanimana Juma, a man residing in Mukono, recently faced the stern hand of justice when the High Court sentenced him to a lengthy 30-year prison term for the reprehensible act of transmitting HIV to his 15-year-old daughter. Mukono High Court Judge Margaret Mutonyi, presiding over the case, found Juma guilty of aggravated defilement.

Expressing discontent with the verdict, Juma launched an appeal, contending that the trial judge had committed errors in both law and factual interpretation. He asserted that the court had handed down an unduly harsh and excessive sentence. However, a panel of three justices, led by Justice Richard Buteera, unequivocally dismissed Juma’s appeal, emphasizing that the extensive trial process had justified the severe sentence. The justices further criticized Juma for needlessly prolonging the legal proceedings, considering his clear culpability.

In a broader context, Uganda grapples with a surge in criminal activities, as highlighted in the 2022 Police Crime Report. The statistics reveal a staggering 18% increase in reported crimes compared to the previous year. The total number of cases surged to 231,653 in 2022 from 196,081 in 2021, with thefts soaring by 41% and assaults witnessing a 9% rise.

In a separate incident in Kiira Division, the police initiated an investigation into the untimely demise of Godfrey Mbona, a 40-year-old man who held the position of Kira Division’s treasurer. Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy spokesperson for the Kampala Metropolitan Police, disclosed that the incident unfolded on the morning of October 4, 2023, at the Kira Division headquarters in Bulindo, Kira Division, Wakiso district.