Manafwa Chief Magistrate, Esther Nalungi, has today, June 22nd, sentenced 27-year-old Derrick Kuloba to 15 years in prison for attempting to murder Evelyn Namasopo.
According to court, Kuloba, a resident of Nabooti Village, Nakatsi Sub-County in Bududa District, was arrested in July 2020, after he attacked and attempted to rape Namasopo for rejecting his sex advances.
Last Wednesday, Kuloba was convicted of attempted murder by the same court and was also asked to pay 50 million Uganda shillings to compensate Namasopo family for her treatment.
Godfrey Wakasaada, the Buduuda Resident State Attorney said that as prosecution, they are happy with the sentence.
“We had challenges during trial and investigation because this trial had a lot of issues. I went and visited the scene, something that is not in the practice of prosecutors according to the laws of Uganda, but because there were mishaps in the file and I had to cross examine the defence witness in the case and also visit the scene,” he said.
He further noted that sentencing Kuloba to 15 years is the good precedent to the country in the interest of justice.
Wakasaada said, “We requested for 15 years in prison which the Court has awarded, and Shs.100m but got Shs50M.”
However, Godfrey Nappa, the defence lawyer, said that the sentence was harsh, given that the accused has to compensate Shs.50m to Namasopo.
Nappa vowed to go to High Court to challenge the decision.
Describing what really happened on the fateful day, Namasopo told the press that, “He (Kuloba) intercepted me and tried to force me to have sex with him. When I refused to remove my clothes as he had ordered me, he tried to cut of my head with his panga but I raised by hand to protect my head and that is how I lost my hand.”
By Kalamira Hope
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