A watchman who defiled a 12-year-old schoolgirland infected her with a sexually transmitted infection in Teso North sub-county last year has been sentenced to 30 years in jail.
Peter Ekaranit, an elderly man who served as a watchman at Kajei Primary School at the time he committed the crime, is said to have lured the minor when she went to fetch water before sexually assaulting her.
He was sentenced by Malaba Law Court resident magistrate Zowade Ogange on Wednesday.
“I have considered the circumstances of this case. I note that the accused person, who works as a watchman, interacts with a number of people at the school, including young girls, and his conduct, as demonstrated in this case, is wanting,” Ogange said in her ruling.
“I hereby sentence him to 30 years imprisonment, which runs from December 16, 2024, when he was remanded,” she said.
She said releasing the accused person to the society will put many other girls at risk.
The incident occurred at Achuot village in Teso North Sub-County of Busia County on December 12, 2024.
The ruling comes barely two weeks after four family members were sentenced to 3 years imprisonment for conspiracy to defeat justice in the defilement case.
The four were found guilty of holding a kangaroo court where they raised funds to procure an abortion for a 17-year-old girl in efforts to cover up the matter.
The four were sentenced by Ogange on June 26, 2025.
