WITH cases of violence against children escalating in the country, the Missenyi District Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday convicted Francisco Minani (60), a resident of Byeju village of raping his daughter aged six years old, and sentenced him to 30 years imprisonment.
Prosecuting Police Inspector Zakayo Nalekwa told the court during hearing of the criminal case that the convict committed the offense on October 21 last year.
Evidence tendered in court revealed that Minani had been living with his three children after he divorced his wife.
Before passing the sentence, Missenyi District Magistrate Yohana Miyombo noted that the prosecution side had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
He denounced the accused describing him as a beast that did not deserve to live in a civilized society and sentenced him to 30 years imprisonment.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Buberwa (54), a resident of Kitobo Village in Missenyi District was sentenced to 60 years imprisonment by the same court, after he was convicted of raping and impregnating a Form One student (name withheld).
Evidence revealed that the convict committed the offense between July-August, 2022. The sentences will run concurrently.
Inspector Nalekwa prayed for a deterrent sentence contending that the offence denied the victim the right to education.
Magistrate Miyombo appealed to family members to take necessary steps to safeguard the welfare of children and ensure that they get proper upbringing from the grassroots level and should enroll them in school.
“Some of the children were neglected forcing them to live in streets begging while others were not attending school and some of them were raped. Investigations revealed that major perpetrators include relatives and neighbours,” he said.
Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) 6: states….. Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse.
