For many years, 50-year-old Betty Kwikiriza regularly participated in worship services at Anointed Soul Winners, a nearby Pentecostal church located in Rubingo, Fort Portal, in western Uganda. It was during these gatherings that she encountered a young man named Ronald Asiimwe, who was 27 years old.
He worked as a janitor at the church. He appeared to be a devoted follower of Christianity. Frequently, he could be observed traveling through the neighborhood to spread the teachings of God and offer prayers for those who were ill.
Eventually, this garnered him admiration from unaware individuals within the group, such as Kwikiriza.
Very quickly, the two developed a strong friendship. Shortly after, Kwikiriza observed that Asiimwe appeared to be homeless. She felt deeply concerned when she saw Asiimwe sleeping within the church grounds and going without meals.
Kwickiriza showed compassion and extended an invitation for him to reside in her modest house. This occurred in 2020.
The ‘pastor’ lived in the same room as her 12-year-old son, Alpha (not his actual name). He was integrated into the household, eating together and fulfilling essential daily requirements, and took an active role in all tasks.
Nevertheless, by June 2023, tensions arose between Asiimwe and his host community.
Kwikiriza found out that the preacher was taking home kitchen equipment and gardening supplies. Although he first refused to admit the claims, Kwikiriza ultimately decided to force him out when additional items began vanishing without explanation.
Two days following his departure from home, Alpha found the strength to share with his elder brother, and subsequently his mother. He described how the ‘pastor’ had sexually assaulted him each evening.
Kwikiriza was taken aback and clearly distressed. She looked at her son, and what she witnessed was deeply upsetting. He had significant bruising. Previously, she had observed that his belly seemed swollen and he emitted an unpleasant smell, but she assumed her child had an upset stomach.
On July 17, 2023, Alpha’s mother submitted a complaint to the Fort Portal Central Police Station, where a medical assessment of the victim verified signs of mistreatment. The suspect was taken into custody, faced charges of severe sexual offenses, and was sent for further legal proceedings. Documentation indicates that the police report was lodged almost one and a half weeks following the defendant’s departure from the residence.
She was in denial upon discovering the truth and didn’t know how to proceed,” said a relative. “Sometimes just thinking about the police can be frightening.
While conducting their investigation, police learned of two additional minors who claimed comparable experiences with the suspect. Officers also found jelly and oil in the defendant’s room, which he had applied to his victims prior to committing acts of sexual violence.
Court hearings
The prosecution was handled by Harriet Adubango, a senior state prosecutor and regional official based in Fort Portal, within the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, whereas the defendant was defended by Attorney Brian Tandeka using a public mandate.
During her statement, Kwikiriza said she would often listen to her son moaning from the room he shared with the defendant, as though someone were choking him. The court learned that every time she questioned the defendant about what was occurring, “he responded that Alpha was possessed by spirits and that he was exorcising them.”
She emphasized that she had asked Asiimwe to stay with her family since she thought he was without a home. She informed the court that he resided with them from 2020 until 2023.
She added that even though there was a bed in Alpha’s room, the defendant and the victim were sleeping on a mat on the floor. When she questioned her about this, the defendant explained that it was intended to help him with his prayers.
In addition to the domestic goods he was stealing, Kwikiriza mentioned that she received reports indicating the man was sexually abusing children within the neighborhood. When she told him to go, he replied, “One day I’ll leave before you come to know me.”
After exiting through the door, Alpha expressed gratitude to his mother for allowing the preacher to leave, and then began to speak openly, describing the continuous mistreatment he had endured.
Looking back, Kwikiriza said she realized that every time she washed her son’s undergarments, there was fecal material present.
Often, the undergarments were damp. At some stage, she noticed that for approximately a week, the victim struggled with walking due to discomfort.
Alpha’s testimony
Alpha remained steadfast during his testimony, providing a vivid and comprehensive description of the suffering he experienced.
He informed the court that he was too frightened to come forward as the defendant had warned him.
Alpha showed a scar on his right hand where the perpetrator had cut him using a razor blade, in a bid to silence him.
Alpha also informed the court that every time he complained about the pain he was experiencing, the offender would cover his mouth to prevent him from yelling.
He stated that for three years, the man raped him at night, as often as three or four times per week.
The court was informed that the offender would also mix sedatives into the child’s meals as a method of controlling him and exploiting him during his deep sleep.
Once the defendant was removed from their house, Alpha mustered the bravery to inform his brother, followed by his mother.
Another two prosecution witnesses provided testimony: Jackson Mugarura, a former clinical officer who explained the severity of the injuries Alpha suffered due to the sexual attack, and Elizabeth Murungi, an investigative officer who introduced the evidence collected during the investigation.
Accused’s take
Swearing under oath, Asiimwe admitted to living with the accusers, yet rejected allegations of wrongdoing.
He stated that he lived in the same room as Alpha for just two weeks in 2022, during a time when his mom was out of town and he felt too scared to be alone in his mother’s bedroom.
He mentioned that during this period, he rested on a mat placed on the ground, whereas Alpha slept on the bed.
Regarding the jelly and oil found in the room, he stated that it was used to address his acne over a period of three months, mentioning that he continued to use it in 2023. Asiimwe refuted any claims of having threatened the defendant and explained that the mark on Alpha’s arm came from an accident while he was collecting firewood. Additionally, he denied that Kwikiriza had asked him to move in with her from the church.
He mentioned that they both went to the same church, and he engaged in doorstep evangelism which led him to be called a pastor, yet Alpha’s mother took him from his aunt, vowing to provide him with employment,” states part of the court ruling. “He then served as a caretaker for Kwikiriza’s aging father until conflicts arose within the family, resulting in him being dismissed and not receiving payment.
Asiimwe presented two individuals as evidence for his claim. Bulyengero Nzenda, a medical professional, stated during testimony that he evaluated the defendant and found no signs of injury on him.
The second witness was his mother, Rose Kabesanza, who stated that in 2019, Asiimwe went out to find work but frequently came back to visit her.
She informed the court that in May 2023, the defendant came back home and mentioned that the woman he was employed by (Kwikiriza) wasn’t compensating him. She stated that she provided him with 50,000 shillings and suggested he explore starting his own business.
The verdict
In his ruling issued on July 3, 2024, High Court Judge Vincent Wagona concluded that the “testimony provided by the prosecution’s witnesses was honest, uniform, credible, and strongly supported, pointing towards the defendant.”
He mentioned that the identification evidence showed the defendant was present at the crime location on multiple instances across three years, noting that “this was without the chance of mistake.”
The judge also pointed out several inconsistencies in the defendant’s statement.
“The defendant contradicted himself regarding key aspects of his testimony about living in the same room as the victim and using oil and lubricant. He claimed he used them exclusively for three months in 2021, yet moments later said he continued using them in 2023. At the beginning of his statement, the defendant mentioned that he lived with the victim in 2020, but then changed his account to say they shared a room for just two weeks in 2022, and finally during questioning admitted that they were together for only one week,” Wagona remarked.
He stated, “I trusted the prosecution’s witnesses. Consequently, I dismiss the defense presented by the defendant. I am convinced that the prosecution has established guilt to a certainty, aligning with the shared view of the jurors, and thus I declare the defendant guilty.”
On July 5, 2024, during the sentencing of the offender to 45 years in prison, Judge Wagona took into account the extent of damage inflicted upon the family and the victim.
“The prisoner exploited the kindness, confidence, and support provided by the victim’s mother, who had taken him in when she found him starving and without shelter at the church. He stayed with them for approximately three years. He violated their faith and deceived them by claiming to be a newly converted Christian in order to gain access and commit sexual abuse against the victim while feigning prayer. The victim was just 12 years old, whereas the offender was 27 years old. He used the weakness of the child due to his young age,” he stated.
The judge further noted that the convict having a substance intended to assist in the sexual acts committed against the victim equates to planning the offense beforehand.
Wagona stated: “The offender resorted to intimidation, physical coercion, or aggression toward the victim. The victim confirmed that he didn’t inform his mother about the events as the offender warned him of imminent harm. He presented the courtroom with a mark on his right hand caused by an injury sustained when the offender sliced him with a blade after the victim considered reporting the incident. Occasionally, the offender disciplined him with a wooden rod.”
Even though the court acknowledged that the offender was a young individual, showed signs of regret, and had aging parents who relied on him, the negative aspects were more significant than the positive ones.
Speaking about this situation, Ruth Ongom, the Fort Portal legal officer with International Justice Mission, stated: “A 45-year prison term delivers an important signal to the general population that committing sexual violence against minors is a grave crime. Community members will feel more motivated to come forward with similar reports because they understand that those responsible will face appropriate consequences.”
Aggravated defilement
Asiimwe faced charges of serious sexual violation under sections 129(3) and (4)(a) of the Penal Code Act.
Serious violation constitutes a capital crime carrying a maximum penalty of execution. This offense is evaluated based on specific conditions;
• If the individual who has been subjected to the offense is under 14 years old;
• If the perpetrator is infected with HIV;
• If the perpetrator is the parent or legal custodian of, or someone who holds authority over, the individual against whom the offense was committed;
• When the individual who suffered the offense has a disability; or when the perpetrator is a repeat offender.
Supplied by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
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