A court in Mukono has found a 44-year-old blind man guilty of defilement after he admitted to having sex with a 15-year-old girl who had been hired to help him with household work.
The man, Ivan Birungi, was convicted by Chief Magistrate Paul Matyama on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
In court, Birungi asked for a lighter sentence, saying his blindness makes it hard for him to survive in prison without support. He told the court that he depends on others for basic daily activities and would struggle to cope while incarcerated.
Prosecutors, led by Josephine Nanyonga, said Birungi had obtained permission from the girl’s parents to let her help him with domestic chores because of his visual impairment. At the time, he was reportedly begging on the streets of Kampala.
Court heard that on February 2, Birungi took the girl to a lodge where he had sex with her and warned her not to tell anyone. The next morning, the girl complained of pain and asked to return home, but Birungi instead travelled with her from Kampala to Mukono and booked another room at a different lodge, where they spent another night.
While at the second lodge, the girl escaped and reported what had happened to a lodge attendant, Mary Nalumusi. A guest who overheard the conversation questioned why a minor was sharing a room with an adult.
Birungi had reportedly told lodge staff that the girl was his daughter, which raised no suspicion because of his disability. Police were later alerted, arrested him at the lodge and charged him with defilement.
Through his lawyer, Lydia Nanyombi, Birungi admitted the offence and asked for forgiveness, saying he is a first-time offender and faced serious challenges while on remand.
The prosecution asked for more time to consult the victim and her family before making submissions on sentencing. The case was adjourned to March 2, 2026.
