A 75-year-old man named Godfrey Ssozi, who had been held on remand for defiling a minor, pleaded for release before a Kampala High Court judge after being pardoned by the victim’s family.
Appearing before Justice Margaret Mutonyi on Wednesday, Ssozi, a resident of Bulenga ‘B’ Village in Wakiso District, was accompanied by 25-year-old Sam Nyeba, who faced separate defilement charges involving a 17-year-old victim.
A visibly frail Ssozi, supported by Nyeba, had been in custody since 2021. Both men, upon conviction, voluntarily pleaded for clemency.
Expressing remorse, Ssozi, an HIV patient, apologised for his actions and requested forgiveness, expressing a desire to spend his remaining days with relatives.
Moved by Ssozi’s plea and considering his deteriorating health, Justice Mutonyi ordered his release, taking into account the reconciliation between Ssozi and the victim’s family.
Court proceedings revealed that Ssozi had admitted to the offense upon arrest in 2021 and sought forgiveness from local authorities. He was found with the victim at the scene, leading to his apprehension.
Nyeba, a resident of Lubyakiro Village in Wakiso District, faced accusations of defiling a girl with whom he had eloped in October 2020. Initially charged with trafficking in persons, his offense was amended to simple defilement.
Upon pleading for forgiveness in court, Nyeba was also released, with the judge cautioning him against seeking the victim and refraining from further transgressions.
The cases have raised many eyebrows regarding the delicate balance between justice and compassion in navigating sensitive legal matters involving victims, offenders, and societal reintegration.
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