BUSHENYI-A 46-year-old Anglican priest has been sentenced to 28 years in prison on charges of aggravated defilement.
The convict appeared before the high court in Bushenyi district on Wednesday.
Lady Justice Joyce Kavuma, the Mbarara high court resident Judge, heard that Rev. Muhwezi Gordon, a priest at Nyarutuntu Church of Uganda in Mitooma district committed the offence in May 2021.
Justice Kavuma found that Rev. Muhwezi, an Anglican priest and resident of Nyakishojwa Central cell, Nyakishojwa parish, Mitooma sub-county in Mitooma district guilty of defiling a twelve-year-old girl.
Lady Justice Kavuma said that this court has found that Rev. Muhwezi has no past criminal record but also the court has a mandate to protect these young girls.
According to Lady Justice Kavuma the court has to give Rev. Muhwezi a heavy sentence to keep him away from the society noting that the jail sentence is very appropriate for the convict .
Rev. Muhwezi, asked court to produce the victim in court and have her testify against him.
Court found him guilty and sentenced him to 28 years to prison.
This court is set to try cases of gender sexual violence in Greater Bushenyi region for 45 days.