(Last Updated On: 20 December 2021)

It’s now one month with no sign of justice for a-14-year-old Kotido girl who was allegedly raped and defiled by a UPDF soldier during a night operation.

By Owiny Hope Ochero

Kotido—20, December 2021: For over a month now, Police seem stranded with a defilement and rape case after the UPDF leadership refused to deliver and hand over their staff [suspect] to police for investigations.

On 19 November, a-14-year-old girl [names withheld] was allegedly raped during an operation by the UPDF. This was in Lomukura village, Rikitae parish, Panyangara sub-county in Kotido district.

TND News understands they reported this case to Kotido Central Police Station the following day on 20 November.

A police detective and the Kotido district CID officer, ASP Ecodu Tadeo, tells our reporter they took the girl for medical examinations.

“The medical reports show the girl was raped and defiled.”

He reveals the file has been delayed because “it is the UPDF who made the arrest of the suspect since he is their officer”.

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“We have made several attempts to have the suspect brought for medical examination and interrogation, but it has been futile since the UPDF has been rigid with the suspect,” according to detective Ecodu.

Moses Akena is the Kotido District Police Commander (DPC) who confirms he has also made several calls to the UPDF investigating officer at Kotido brigade to deliver the suspect. This, he adds, “But in vain.”

Akena has made a promise to do all it takes to make sure they [UPDF] deliver the suspect so that the case can “see daylight”.

Captain Edrin Mawanda, the 3rd Division Army spokesperson, denies the allegations in an interview with our reporter. “It is false and meant for tarnish the image of the UPDF because that rape and defilement case is baseless and not true.”