Kampala, Uganda.
A Tanzanian student, Queen Kaftah, has been acquitted by the High Court of Uganda. The young woman had been sentenced to three years in prison for her alleged involvement in the aggravated torture of Pretty Nicole Eseza, a teenage girl. The case gained prominence after a distressing video of the incident went viral on social media platforms.
The appalling incident occurred on January 5 in Nsasa, Kira municipality, Wakiso district, and the video footage of the brutal torture caused widespread outrage. Queen Kaftah, an 18-year-old student at Trinity College Nabweru, was among those arrested in connection with the assault. The video sparked public condemnation, leading to her conviction in the Kira Chief Magistrate Court.
Displeased with her sentence, Kaftah appealed the court’s decision, citing a lack of legal representation during her trial, which she believed led to an unfair judgment. On July 21, Justice Margret Mutonyi of the Criminal Division of the High Court, delivered a significant ruling, resulting in Kaftah’s release. The judge found the trial to be invalid due to the denial of a fair hearing and legal representation, as constitutionally guaranteed.
Kaftah’s appeal was presented by her lawyer, Zephaniah Zimbe, who argued that her constitutional rights were violated during the trial. The court concurred, emphasizing that the prosecution failed to substantiate the elements of aggravated torture beyond reasonable doubt. The absence of evidence regarding the use of a deadly weapon or recurring acts of torture played a crucial role in the acquittal.
