The High Court in Busia district handed down a 30 year sentence to Jackson Okello, a 30 year-old resident of Daha village in Bwaniha parish, Busiime sub-county, Busia district. The severe punishment follows Okello’s conviction for the reprehensible crime of raping his own 60-year-old mother.
Senior Resident Judge Henry Isabirye Kawesa, presiding over the Tororo High Court circuit, delivered the verdict on Thursday, November 09. The judge, in a statement, declared, “I find the evidence raised by the prosecution sufficient and beyond no reasonable doubt, the accused is found guilty of the charge.”
The victim, Okello’s biological mother, positively identified her son during the court proceedings. Judge Kawesa emphasized that her familiarity with the accused, including his voice and tracks, provided compelling evidence supporting the prosecution’s case.
The court, during the trial, learned that the assaults occurred in September 2020 in the victim’s bedroom, followed by another incident in June 2021 in her kitchen as she prepared food. On the third attempt, the mother managed to escape.
In response to the shocking nature of the crime, the judge sentenced Okello to 30 years in Morokatipe prison in Tororo district. Despite the heinous nature of the act, the judge opted for a 30-year term instead of life imprisonment. This decision came after Okello’s lawyer, Serious Brian, pleaded for leniency, citing the possibility of family conflicts and subsequent reconciliation.
