K'jong kills son for rape of sister
David Mafabi
Nakapiripirit
A man in Karamoja chaired a traditional court and sentenced his two sons to
death for raping their sister, Daily Monitor can reveal.
Mr Abura Apalalu chaired the court, set up under traditional cultural rules,
that sat at Longorinyangai village, Namalu Sub-county in Nakapiripit District
on October 3 and sentenced the two men, both his sons, to death, UPDF 3rd
Division Spokesman, Capt. Henry Obbo confirmed.
The incident has also been separately confirmed by the Karamoja Regional Police
Commander, Mr Okot Obwana. He said Mr Apalalu was arrested after one of his
sons, Piyan Lokalei, was canned to death after the sentence was passed. The
second son, whose name was not readily available, sustained severe injuries
from the beating he received.
Mr Apalalu and other family members, who constituted the court will be
prosecuted, the deputy Regional Police Commander, Mr Francis Bratti, said
without giving details of the charges.
"We are tracing the other family members and shall have them arrested," said Mr
Bratti.
According to Mr Andrew Keem Napaja, the Nakapiripit RDC, the two young men
sneaked into their sister's room and raped her. "This is abominable in
Karamoja, it is equated to wizardry and one in traditional Karamoja society is
supposed to be hanged for committing such an act," Mr Napaja told Daily
Monitor.
However, the RDC said it was wrong for the family, led by the father, to mete
out a punishment that led to the death of Lokalei.
Karamoja, in northeastern Uganda, is one of the remotest and poorest regions of
the country and many residents still live traditional lifestyles governed by
local rules and customs.
Rape is a capital offence that is tried only by the High Court.The traditional
courts have no powers to try and hang suspects.
Capt. Obbo told Daily Monitor earlier in the week that the UPDF, which runs a
disarmament programme in Karamoja, is opposed to the traditional justice system
there. The army last year saved two people who had been sentenced to life
imprisonment in an illegal detention centre - a pit dug in the ground - on
orders of a traditional court.
Five people have been hanged on orders of the Karimajong traditional clan court
sitting at Namalu in the last year. Last May, a village court in Karamoja
condemned to death three men and hanged one of them before the UPDF intervened
and rescued the others. The three had been accused of murdering a man who had
beaten them in a cards game.
The victim allegedly won Shs80,000 in the gamble. Challenged by his fellow
players, the victim refused to refund the money and walked away. The three
reportedly ran after him and beat him to death. Capt. Obbo said mid last year
they rescued another three people who had been sentenced by the traditional
clan court to death and arrested the culprits.
However, the UPDF's efforts to charge the elders behind the traditional court
system were frustrated because the local people declined to come to court to
give evidence.
"The traditional justice system in which majority of these people believe in is
another challenge for us," Capt. Obbo said. "Even some of the educated
Karimojong believe in their traditional court system. It is as if the area is
not governed by the laws of Uganda. It is like a jungle."
The Karamoja sub-region United Nations human rights desk confirmed they have
registered cases of abuse through the traditional court system presided over by
local chiefs trying especially cases of thefts, adultery, rape and defilement.
"We have not heard about this particular one but last year we registered cases
at Kakuwam and Kakomongole parishes where people were hanged while others were
rescued by police and UPDF while in life imprisonment detention locally," said
Francis Oluka, a United Nations official.
The Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy"
Groupe de communication Mulindwas
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