crime 15 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Court of Appeal Upholds 36-Year Sentence for Rape of Deaf Woman in Lwengo
The Court of Appeal has dismissed Ali Lukwago's appeal, confirming his 36-year prison term for raping a deaf and mute woman in Lwengo District in 2015. Justices ruled the prosecution proved the case beyond doubt, backed by credible testimony, witnesses, and medical evidence. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/man-to-serve-36-years-in-prison-for-raping-deaf-woman-5424076
A three-justice panel at the Court of Appeal has unanimously rejected the appeal from 36-year-old Ali Lukwago, upholding his conviction and 36-year jail sentence for the rape of a deaf and mute woman in Lwengo District.
Originally convicted by the High Court in Masaka for the January 2015 incident, Lukwago received a 40-year term, reduced to 36 years after deducting time on remand. He challenged both the conviction and sentence, claiming insufficient proof of non-consent, his involvement, and inconsistent evidence.
Led by Justice Christopher Gashirabake, with Justices Ketrah Kitariisibwa Katunguka and Esta Nambayo concurring, the court re-examined the evidence. They affirmed the victim’s sign-language account of the forceful attack as credible, supported by witnesses and medical reports showing severe genital injuries needing surgery.
The justices confirmed the victim was a competent witness via interpreter, with no mistaken identity issues since the daytime attack involved someone she knew, and she quickly led others to identify him at his home.
On sentencing, the court rejected claims of excessiveness, noting the trial judge balanced mitigating factors like first-offender status against aggravators: the victim’s vulnerability, violence inflicted, and profound harm caused. With death as the maximum penalty, 36 years was deemed appropriate.
The appeal was dismissed in full, maintaining the original ruling.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)