HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I In a shocking case from Mukono, Uganda, a 44-year-old visually impaired man named Ivan Birungi has been found guilty of defilement after admitting to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl he had brought from her village to assist him.
Birungi, who relied on begging in the streets of Kampala and Mukono for his livelihood, had approached the girl’s parents requesting her help with daily tasks, explaining that his blindness left him unable to manage alone. The parents agreed, sending her to live with him as a domestic helper.
According to court details presented by Mukono Senior Resident State Attorney Josephine Nanyonga, the abuse began soon after.
On February 3, 2026, Birungi took the girl to a lodge in Kampala, where he forced her into sexual acts throughout the night. He reportedly threatened to send her away if she told anyone.
The next morning, the girl experienced severe pain and begged to return home, but Birungi refused.
Instead, he moved them to Mukono, rented another lodge, and continued the assaults.
During the day, the girl helped guide him while he begged on the streets, and the abuse resumed at night.The ordeal ended when the girl escaped in Mukono and confided in the lodge attendant, Mary Nalumusi.
A concerned customer overheard the conversation and questioned why the attendant allowed the girl to share a room with the man. Police were notified, leading to Birungi’s arrest.
Court records show Birungi had told lodge staff the girl was his daughter, and his blindness prevented any immediate suspicion.Birungi, represented by lawyer Lydia Nanyombi of Nanyombi, Kyamuhangire Advocates, pleaded guilty. In mitigation, he knelt before the court, expressing remorse and begging for mercy.
He emphasized that this was his first offense, and as a blind person dependent on others for basic needs—like using the toilet—he feared he could not survive prison life.
Chief Magistrate Paul Matyama convicted him based on the guilty plea. Prosecutor Nanyonga requested an adjournment to consult the victim and her family before recommending a sentence.
The case was postponed until March 2, 2026, when Birungi will learn his punishment.This incident highlights serious concerns around the exploitation of vulnerable individuals, including children hired as helpers in difficult circumstances.
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