Father arrested for allegedly defiling daughter

Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Police in Kiira region confirmed the arrest of 35-year-old, Paul Mwanje on Sunday on allegation of repeatedly defiling his primary six daughter aged 14 years. It is suspected that Mwanje, a resident of Katende cell, in Bugembe ward, in Northern division, in Jinja city has been defiling his daughter for the past three months.

Mwanje is currently detained at Bugembe police station over two counts of aggravated defilement and child abuse. The distressed daughter notified neighbors, who later alerted the police. The victim says that her father started sexually assaulting her in November of last year after her mother left for domestic labor abroad.

She says that their father would buy her fast foods and soft drinks, lock up her two young brothers outside their two-roomed house, and then defile her. The victim says that she currently experiences immense pain in her genitalia. However, Mwanje allegedly threatened to kill her if she ever disclosed this secret to the public. The victim, who is currently receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed health facility within Jinja city wants justice.

One of the residents who also spoke on condition of anonymity said Mwanje has been fond of locking up himself with the victim during midnight hours as the boys waited outside, a suspicious behavior. She says that confronted their local leaders to interrogate, but they instead downplayed it as a disciplinary measure to the boys who often returned home late.

She says that the victim’s revelation after enduring pain for three months is an indicator of limited spaces for children to easily speak up against evils. The Kiira regional police spokesperson, James Mubi confirmed the incident, adding that, available medical reports have revealed a ruptured hymen and habitual penetration in the victim’s private parts.

Mubi further says that exhibits of evidential value have been extracted from the suspect’s bedroom and detectives have finalized recording a statement from the victim. He says that Mwanje will be subjected to HIV tests and mental examinations respectively, before interrogation.

Mubi notes that there is an increase in sexual abuse of children by their relatives, across the Kiira region policing area and so far five cases have been reported in the past month. He suspects that the vice results from largely broken families, where parents separate and entrust their children in the hands of either biological relatives or fathers who instead sexually abuse them.

*******

URN