Kerry Howard Mwesigwa.
Geoffrey Byakatonda, a former headteacher at Kaaso Primary School in Mubende District, faced the Court of Appeal to challenge his 22-year jail term for defiling two young pupils.
The distressing Incident occurred on September 16, 2009, when Byakatonda allegedly engaged in sexual intercourse with two innocent minors aged six and seven. The heart-wrenching detail was that the victims were siblings, living in the same household, making the crime even more abhorrent.
The court heard that Byakatonda lured each girl separately to his office before committing the heinous act on the same day. The first victim bravely recounted her ordeal to the other minor in the presence of a five-year-old boy, who eventually alerted his parents.
The matter was promptly reported to the Local Council Chairman, leading to formal charges against Byakatonda at Kasambya Police Station. Medical examination confirmed the horrifying truth that both children had been defiled.
During the trial in the High Court, Byakatonda appealed against the conviction and sentence, claiming that the prosecution’s evidence was inconsistent and unreliable, resulting in a miscarriage of justice. He argued that the crime could not have occurred given the presence of teachers nearby, and he was being framed due to unrelated debts.
The Court of Appeal, presided over by Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera, Lady Justices Irene Mulyagonja, and Eva Luswata, delivered a powerful verdict, dismissing Byakatonda’s appeal. The panel upheld the conviction, deeming the evidence irrefutable and pointing out that the maximum penalty for aggravated defilement is death.
The justices emphasized Byakatonda’s position of trust as a headteacher, which he shamelessly abused to commit the heinous acts. Such actions demanded a deterrent sentence to protect vulnerable children and send a message of zero tolerance for such despicable behavior.
