MASAKA.
Masaka High Court sitting in Lwengo District Friday sentenced a teacher to 35 years imprisonment for defiling a Primary Three pupil.
David Ssekyomya 29, alias Francis Ssemirembe ,a resident of Ndagwe Sub County in Lwengo District was convicted for defiling an eleven-year-old girl .
Appearing before Masaka High Court judge Lady Justice Fatuma Nanziri Bwanika , in Sexual and Gender Based Violence(SGBV) criminal session of Masaka High Court held at Lwengo convicted Ssekyomya after finding him guilty of defiling the minor.
Court heard that Ssekyomya committed the offense on May 20, 2023 when he was caught by the minors’ relative in a bush where he reportedly sexually assaulted the learner.
Prosecution led by Noah Kunya told court that Ssekyomya, a former teacher at Mercy Primary School, Ndagwe where the victim was a pupil violated the trust the parents had in him because he was always going with the victim to school since they were coming from the same area.
Records before court also indicated that a medical examination made on the minor at Mbirizi Muslim Health Centre IV indicated that the minor had been sexually assaulted.
Mr Kunya said cases of defilement and other sexual related violence cases are rampant in Lwengo District asking court to give a deterrent sentence to the convict.
The defense lawyer Marufu Waduka however, prayed for a lighter sentence for the convict saying that he was remorseful and a first-time offender who could transform.
Ssekyomya, however, asked court to be lenient to him saying he was framed and the case started a result of a misunderstanding he had with his neighbour, who happened to be a relative to the victim’s father.
The presiding judge however, agreed with the prosecution that society and children need to be protected from people like Ssekyomya and sentenced him to 35 years jail term.
She however said that the court will deduct the time of 1 year 11 months Ssekyomya had spent on remand and now will serve 33 years and 10 days.
“In your own wisdom you think you’re framed because of the said wrangles you had with your neighbour? Didn’t he have children, why would he link you with another person’s child, that is a lame excuse, you’re hereby sentenced to 35 years imprisonment, considering the time you have spent on remand it should be deducted and you serve the remaining time. ” he added.