Kampala — A middle-aged man who defiled a-13-year-old girl has lost his last appeal against a prison sentence of 12 years.

Abdu Saabwe from Nakasongola district had appealed to the Supreme Court to have his conviction overturned, arguing that the Court of Appeal should not have upheld the High Court ruling without corroborative evidence.

However, the Supreme Court dismissed Saabwe's appeal and ruled that the Court of Appeal rightly upheld the High Court judgment after studying the evidence.

The High Court in December 2002 found Saabwe guilty of defiling the minor.

In September 2000, Saabwe met the victim with her younger sister returning home from a well at Namalinda village. He blindfolded them and led them into a swamp where he undressed them before he defiled the elder sister.

Court heard that the father, Moses Mbangire, and his fellow villagers looked for his daughters in vain.

The prosecution further stated that Saabwe went to the father and told him he could help find his children using his witchcraft if he offered him two goats and two chicken.

The prosecution told the court that when Mbangire and some fellow villagers went to the home of Saabwe to check on the two girls, the victim revealed to her father that Saabwe had had sexual intercourse with her.

The matter was reported to the local authority and the Police who arrested and charged Saabwe.