The Judiciary has called upon all those unhappy about the one year handed to the Stella Namuwonge, a Masaka woman for inserting razor blades into the private parts of her then three weeks old step-daughter to appeal in a higher competent court.
The Judiciary has called upon all
those unhappy about the one year handed to the Stella Namuwonge, a Masaka woman for inserting razor blades into the private parts of her three weeks old step-daughter to appeal in a higher competent court.
In a press statement dated October 29 and signed off by Judiciary spokesperson Erias Kisawuzi, states that judicial officers have discretionary powers to mete out any sentence in accordance with the law and that anybody/institution dissatisfied can appeal for redress.
“For the record and without going into merits of the case, it is important to note that any sentence is a discretionary of a judicial officer exercised in accordance with law and established principles which include seriousness and nature of the offence, degree or risk harm of the offence, public perception or outcry, degree of culpability of the offender for the offence committed, among others.†reads the Judiciary press statement in part
It further reads: “any party aggrieved by the conviction and/or sentence meted out by the judicial officer has unfettered right to appeal to a competent court for redress.â€
A week ago, Masaka Chief Magistrate Mary Ikit convicted Stella Namuwonge for causing grievous bodily harm to her step-daughter when she inserted razor blades inside her private parts.
However, the magistrate's decision
sparked off protests from the general public and human rights activists.They reasoned that the sentence was on a lower side in comparison to the crime she committed.
According to the Penal Code Act, the maximum penalty of causing grievous bodily harm is five years.
They wanted a stiffer punishment of maximum sentence of five years to teach her a lesson and deter others from committing similar offences.
According to the spokesperson of the DPP Jane Akuo Kajuga said the DPP is studying the judgment critically to determine the next step to take before adding that they have 14 days in which to make their appeal if they are to appeal.
