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	Priest Jailed for Sex Assault By Rwambuka Mugisha New Vision December 23, 2008 http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/666011 An Anglican priest is to serve 12 months in prison for criminal trespass and sexual assault. The Rev. Charles Turyahaabwa of Kitwe Church of Uganda assaulted Zepher Ntwirenabo, the wife of a junior layleader at the same church. In her judgment, magistrate Lillian Margaret Buchana said the accused's lawyers failed to convince the court that the allegations were concocted and that the defence witnesses' testimonies had contradictions. She said the punishment would serve as a lesson for the convict not to commit offences among his followers and the community at large. She told the priest that it was his constitutional right to appeal in the High Court if he was not satisfied with the court's ruling. The priest will serve his jail term at Ntungamo prison or pay a fine of sh500,000. The priest did not have the money and was taken to prison. Wearing his dog-collar in the dock, the priest said his lawyers would appeal the ruling. The judgment was delivered in a packed courtroom on Monday. Christians shed tears as their priest was led to the cells. Some were overheard outside court saying the man of God did not commit any crime. They said the case resulted from a misunderstanding between the two clergymen. The rift started when the Rev. Turyahaabwa ordered the transfer of Ntwirenabo's husband from Kitwe Church to Kihanga, within the same archdeaconry of Rukoni. The priest's sympathisers vowed to pray for the priest until justice would prevail, said George Bwafamba, the chairperson of the Kitwe Church committee.
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