KAMPALA
The High Court in Kampala has sentenced Haruna Kalyowa to 40 years in prison for defiling his 12-year-old biological daughter.
Justice David Matovu convicted Kalyowa of defilement after hearing evidence that he sexually assaulted the girl in 2021 at their home in Sembule Zone, Kabowa Parish, Rubaga Division, Kampala.
The prosecution, led by Senior State Attorney Carol Tabaro, told the court that the girl was living with Kalyowa and her stepmother when the offence occurred.
According to the prosecution, the stepmother left home to take her baby for immunisation, leaving the girl with her father.
Kalyowa allegedly sexually assaulted the girl while the woman was away.
The prosecution said the incident was interrupted when the stepmother returned after realising that she had forgotten the baby's immunisation card. She allegedly found Kalyowa in the act.
Kalyowa later moved to another residence within the same parish.
The girl subsequently disclosed that her father had sexually abused her on more than four occasions.
In 2023, she told a school friend about the abuse after resisting further advances from her father. The matter was later brought to the attention of adults, including her biological mother.
Kalyowa was arrested in June 2023.
During the trial, he denied the charge and claimed the allegations stemmed from family disagreements.
The prosecution called seven witnesses, whose evidence the court found sufficient to prove the case against Kalyowa.
Justice Matovu subsequently convicted him of defilement and sentenced him to 40 years' imprisonment.
