Zziwa v Uganda (Criminal Appeal No. 217 of 2003) [2006] UGCA 13 (9 May 2006)

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\widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\noxlattoyen\expshrtn\noultrlspc\dntblnsbdb\nospaceforul\formshade\horzdoc\dghspace180\dgvspace180\dghorigin1701 \dgvorigin1984\dghshow0\dgvshow0\jexpand\viewkind1\viewscale100\pgbrdrhead\pgbrdrfoot\nolnhtadjtbl\nojkernpunct\rsidroot9595768 \fet0{\*\ftnsep \pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid9595768 \chftnsep \par }}{\*\ftnsepc \pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid9595768 \chftnsepc \par }}{\*\aftnsep \pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid9595768 \chftnsep \par }}{\*\aftnsepc \pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid9595768 \chftnsepc \par }}\sectd \psz9\linemod5\linex0\endnhere\sectdefaultcl\sftnbj {\footer \pard\plain \s17\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tqc\tx4153\tqr\tx8306\pvpara\phmrg\posxc\posy0\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\field{\*\fldinst {\cs18\insrsid9595768 PAGE }}{\fldrslt {\cs18\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof\insrsid8522867 3}}}{\cs18\insrsid9595768 \par }\pard \s17\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tqc\tx4153\tqr\tx8306\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid9595768 \par }}{\*\pnseclvl1\pnucrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl2\pnucltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl3\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl4\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta )}} {\*\pnseclvl5\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl6\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl7\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl8 \pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \s15\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar \tx1985\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8522867 \b\fs28\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \par }\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8522867 \fs20\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF UGANDA \par AT KAMPALA \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8522867 {\b\fs24\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 \par CORAM:\tab HON. JUSTICE A. E. N. MPAGI-BAHIGEINE, JA. \par \tab \tab HON. JUSTICE C. N. B. KITUMBA, JA. \par \tab \tab HON. JUSTICE C. K. BYAMUGISHA, JA. \par \par }\pard\plain \s1\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8522867 \b\fs28\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 217 OF 2003 \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8522867 \fs20\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 \par ZZIWA }{\b\fs24\insrsid8522867\charrsid8522867 MOHAMMED:}{\b\fs24\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: APPELLANT \par }\pard\plain \s1\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8522867 \b\fs28\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 VERSUS \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8522867 \fs20\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\insrsid8522867\charrsid8522867 UGANDA:}{ \b\fs24\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: RESPONDENT \par }\pard\plain \s16\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8522867 \b\i\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 [An appeal from the sentence of the High Court held at Kampala (Rwamisazi-Kagaba, J.) dated 21/11/2002 in Criminal Session Case No. 126 of 2003]}{\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 \par }\pard \s16\ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8522867 {\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 \par \par }{\i0\ul\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 JUDGEMENT OF THE COURT}{\b0\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 \par \par Zziwa Mohammed, the appellant has with leave of this Court appealed against a sentence of 5 years imprisonment \par The facts that led to this appeal are as follows:-The appellant was a special hire taxi driver. On 24/9/2001 the appellant was hired by the victim\rquote s mother to take them to Rubaga Girls\rquote School. While the victim\rquote s mother and her brother were in the headmaster\rquote s officer the appellant and the victim struck a friendship. The victim got the appellant\rquote s telephone number. \par \par On 26/9/2001 }{\b0\i0\insrsid8522867\charrsid8522867 by prior}{\b0\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 arrangement the appellant took the victim to a lodge at Nakulabye where he defiled her. She became pregnant and the victim\rquote s mother learnt that it was the appellant who was responsible for the pregnancy. On his arrest the appellant readily admitt ed the offence. He was indicted for defilement and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, and hence the appeal on the following ground. \par \par }\pard \s16\ql \li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid8522867 {\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 \'93 That considering the mitigating factors as were advanced on behalf of he appellant the sentence of 5 years ought to have included the period of nearly 2 years spent on remand.\'94}{\b0\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 \par }\pard \s16\ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8522867 {\b0\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 \par Mr. Seguya Samuel, the learned counsel for the appellant, submitted that the sentence of 5 years imprisonment was excessive and there was a miscarriage of justice. According to counsel since the victim was 15 years old, the appellant 29 years and the two parties appear to have consented the learned judge should have deducted from the sentence of 5 years imprisonment the period of 2 years which the appellant had spent on rema nd. Ms Annet }{\b0\i0\insrsid8522867\charrsid8522867 Koote}{\b0\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 learned Senior State Attorney supported the sentence. \par The powers of sentencing are within the discretion of the trial court. The appellate court would not interfere with the sentence passed unless it is illegal. In the trial judge di d not follow the correct principles or its manifestly harsh or excessive so as to occasion a miscarriage of justice. As was stated by the Supreme Court in }{\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 Kamya Johnson Wavamuno }{\i0\insrsid8522867\charrsid8522867 vs }{\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 . Uganda, Criminal Appeal No. 16 of 2000 at p. 17. \par \par }\pard \s16\ql \li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid8522867 {\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 \'93It is well settled tha t the Court of Appeal will not interfere with the exercise of the discretion unless there has been a failure to exercise }{\i0\insrsid8522867\charrsid8522867 discretion}{\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 , or a failure to take into account a material consideration or an error in principle was made. It is not sufficient that members of the court would have }{\i0\insrsid8522867\charrsid8522867 exercised}{\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 their discretion differently before passing sentence.\'94}{\b0\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 \par }\pard \s16\ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8522867 {\b0\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 \par In the instant appeal the learned judge took into consideration all relevant factors before sentencing the appellant. As rightly pointed out by the Senior Stat e Attorney, the judge took into consideration the fact that the appellant took advantage of a school girl . When passing sentence the judge stated thus:- \par \par }\pard \s16\qj \li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid8522867 {\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 After considering all the aggravating and mitigating circumstances against and in favour of the accuse d respectively, I feel the justice of the case require a custodial sentence should be meted out to the convict. Young men should not be allowed ruin the liver of young innocent and unsuspecting }{\i0\insrsid8522867\charrsid8522867 females such}{ \i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 as the victim in this case. \par \par \'93SENTENCE\'94 \par This convict shall serve a sentence f five (5) years imprisonment. This does not include the period he has been on remand.\'94 \par }\pard \s16\ql \li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid8522867 {\b0\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 \par }\pard \s16\ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8522867 {\b0\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 According to us the judge took into account the period the appellant had spent on remand as is required to do by article 23(8) of the Constitution. As stated by the Supreme Court in }{\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 Kizito Senkule Vs Uganda Criminal Appeal No. 24of 2001 }{\b0\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 \'93to take into account\'94 does mean a mathematical exercise. What is necessary is that the trial court makes an order of sentence that is not ambigious..

\par This appeal lacks merit and is accordingly dismissed. \par }{\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 Dated at Kampala this }{\i0\insrsid8522867\charrsid8522867 6}{\i0\super\insrsid8522867\charrsid8522867 th}{\i0\insrsid8522867\charrsid8522867 day}{\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 of February 2006. \par \par }\pard \s16\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8522867 {\i0\insrsid9595768\charrsid8522867 A. E. N. Mpagi \endash Bahigeine \par JUSTICE OF APPEAL \par \par C. N. B. Kitumba \par JUSTICE OF APPEAL \par \par C. K. Byamugisha \par JUSTICE OF APPEAL \par }}