Church Leader who defiled minor on New Year’s convicted, to be sentenced tomorrow.

A 22-year-old man who once served as a Youth Leader at Kinanira Catholic Church has today been convicted of aggravated defilement by the Kabale High court sitting in Kisoro.

The convict has been identified as Kwitonda Ronald, a resident of Gacaca village, Buhumbu Parish in Busanza Sub County.

By the time of his arrest, he was a student at Kabaya Tailoring Institute.

Court heard that during the wee hours of January 1^st, 2020, while at Busenyagabo village, Busengo parish in Nyarubuye Sub County, Kwitonda Ronald forcefully had sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old girl and injured her head during the scuffle.

The Victim was also a youth member at Kinanira Catholic Church who was returning home from night prayers that ushered in a new year.

Kwitonda denied the allegations against him, saying that by the time of this act he was at home sleeping with his brother.

The Kabale High Court Circuit Resident Judge, Hon. Justice Emokor Samuel, said that the evidence tendered before court by the prosecution clearly proves beyond reasonable doubt that Kwitonda defiled the victim.

Hon, Justice Emokor also noted that medical evidence before him shows that the convict was HIV positive and defiled a minor while knowing that he was infected, exposing the risk of infection to her.

The state Prosecutor, Ainomugisha Christopher prayed that the Judge give a deterrence sentence because he forcefully defiled a minor and caused trauma to her life because of the HIV infection risk.

The defence Lawyer asked for leniency because the convict is still young, he is a student and a youth leader in his church.

The Father of the Victim, Bizimana Didas prayed for justice because his daughter was a P.6 pupil whom he had a lot of hope that she can become a better person in the future, but she has dropped out of school due to trauma.

The Resident Judge said that he will be giving his ruling tomorrow the 11th of August 2023.

Aggravated defilement carries a maximum penalty of death in the constitution of Uganda.