By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
The former LCV Chairman of Bukwo district has appeared before Kira Chief Magistrate’s court and remanded on two counts of aggravated trafficking in children and aggravated defilement.
Although the Chief Magistrate, Her Worship, Roseline Nsenge read the two counts to Julius Chelimo, she did not allow him to take plea saying her court has no jurisdiction to do so.
She also advised the embattled Chelimo to apply for bail in the High Court which has the jurisdiction to hear such capital offences.
Chelimo who was camera shy was later sent on remand as the State Attorney from the office of the, DPP asked for more time saying inquiries into the case were incomplete.
Chelimo was arrested at his hideout in Bukwo on 30th October 2022.
He was briefly detained at Mbale Central Police Station before he was transferred to Kampala under tight security.
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga confirmed the arrest, saying the suspect had been transferred to Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters in Kibuli, Kampala.
“He has been on [the] wanted [list] for aggravated defilement and trafficking in persons,” Mr Enanga said.
While addressing journalists in the weekly Joint Security briefing at Naguru police headquarters on, 12th September 2022, the police spokesperson, SCP Fred Enanga made the following statement.
“The facts gathered indicate that the victim left her parents’ home in Bukwo on the 28.11.2021, and came for holidays in Kampala. While in Kampala, she went and visited a friend called Amidu Anthony, where she was lured into a friendship, by the suspect Chelimo Julius, the LC5 Chairman Bukwo district,” Enanga said.
Enanga further said that on the 6.05.2022, the victim was picked by a one Amisi Latif, at Usafi market and linked up with the suspect who was waiting for the victim at Shell Petrol Station in Kireka. He further transported them to Mbale, where the two (suspects and victim) slept at Starlight Hotel.
The victim however, managed to sneak out of the Hotel on the 7.05.2022, and travelled back to her parent’s home in Bukwo. Again, on the 18.05.2022, her disappearance was caused from their home, and traced to the home of Chesang Doreen, a relative to the suspect and reunited with her family.
The victim was once again trafficked from their home, between May 2022 and 24.08.2022, and harbored at the home of Chemutai Caroline in Budaka district, a cousin to the suspect. The suspect would occasionally pick her up, take her to a lodge and drop her home later.
The victim is currently under the protection and care, of the Sexual and Gender Based Violence Unit of CID Headquarters.
According to Enanga, police had already obtained very relevant statements from credible witnesses, and samples from the victim for further DNA analysis.
Any person who is arrested, charged and convicted on charges of aggravated defilement and child trafficking C/S 129(3) of the Penal Code Act and Sec 5 (A) of the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act 2009, is liable to suffer death.
