A 69-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for defiling his 13-year-old granddaughter in Kauma Sub-County. 

Principal Magistrate Ivy Wasike ruled that the evidence presented proved Chivatsi Mundu committed the offence on April 22, last year. 

The minor reported the incident to her mother, who took her to the hospital. The magistrate has also ordered the minor to receive psychosocial support. 

The ruling comes at a time when authorities are calling on members of the public to remain vigilant following the rape and killing of a seven-year-old girl. On Wednesday, the court granted detectives permission to detain Alice Auma Omondi, the mother of the prime suspect.

The matter was thereafter reported to the police.

The magistrate observed that the stiff penalty would serve as a deterrent to similar offences at a time when cases of defilement are on the rise.

Magistrate Wasike approved the application, allowing police to hold Auma as investigations intensify and efforts to track down the main suspect continue.

Authorities said Auma’s detention is intended to assist officers with information that could lead to the arrest of her son, who remains at large.

Keziah Mutaki went missing from her home on Sunday last week, sparking concern among residents.

Her body was later discovered dumped near their homestead in a case that has shocked the local community.

A postmortem report confirmed that the minor was defiled before being killed. Medical findings indicated that she was strangled, with a broken neck cited as the cause of death.