A 48-year-old police officer at the rank of Inspector of Police, identified as Emmanuel Wilson Abura, has been given a 50-year prison term for strangling to death a 9-year-old girl.
The deceased, Patience Namawejje, was a niece to Abura’s colleague, Corporal Joel Mwonda, with whom they shared residence in the Nalya Housing Estate, Namugongo Division, Kiira Municipality, Wakiso District.
The prosecution’s case was that, on November 6, 2021, at Naalya Housing Estates, the accused, with malice aforethought, unlawfully caused the death of Namawejje.
“Despite pleading not guilty, the evidence presented during the trial painted a damning picture. Testimony from the deceased’s mother revealed a chilling sequence of events. She recounted leaving her child at home to do homework, only to return to find her house locked and her child hanging from a curtain nail inside the door. Suspicion fell upon the accused, with whom they shared a residence. The accused’s attempt to provide an alibi was discredited by his own recorded police statement,” the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) announced.
It added: “The Court meticulously examined the evidence as a whole, including witness testimonies, and ultimately rejected the accused’s defense.”
The Criminal Division of the High Court in Kampala, presided over by Justice Margaret Mutonyi, delivered a verdict delivered a verdict on April 29, 2024, convicting Abura of murder.
Abura was, on May 8, 2024, sentenced to 50 years in prison.
The sentence could mean Wilson spends the remainder of his life behind bars, with a possibility of release in 2073 at age 97 if he maintains good health.
This incident has caused significant concern within the Ugandan police force regarding domestic violence.
The ODPP said the verdict underscores the commitment of the Ugandan legal system to uphold justice and accountability, regardless of rank or affiliation.
“The conviction of a senior police officer sends a clear message that impunity will not be tolerated, and perpetrators of heinous crimes will face the full force of the law.”
