The Uganda People Defense Force (UPDF) has disowned a man who claims to be a retired Colonel and a son of the president who is facing charges of aggravated defilement and child trafficking. The suspect is Stephen Aine, 39, a resident of Lira City West division.
He was arrested the last week and charged with aggravated defilement and child trafficking contrary to section 129 (3&4) (c) and section 3 (1a) of the Penal Code Act and Section 5(a) of the prevention of trafficking in persons Act respectively.
He was remanded to prison pending the hearing of his case. Now, UPDF has come out to clarify that the said suspect is not and has never been an army officer. Capt. Amos Nsamba, the UPDF 5th Division spokesperson, says that there is no record of any retired Colonel Stephen Aine or any document showing that he is still a serving officer in the army.
According to Nsamba, there are people who masquerade as UPDF officers because they want to associate with the force, saying such people are tainting the image of the force.
Records in court show that between 2016 and August 2022 while at Tesobar modern in Lira City West Division, Aine performed a sexual act with a minor now aged 17 years, who was under his care. He also recruited, harbored, received, and transported the victim by means of deception or abuse of power and position of vulnerability for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
This is not the first time the suspect is being accused of sexually abusing children. Early this year, the suspect was arrested on allegations of defilement but the charges were mysteriously dropped.
Aine first came to the limelight in 2021 when he accused Justice Rubby Opio Aweri of forcefully claiming ownership of his land measuring 2 hectares on Plot 13, Imat Cecilia Ogwal road opposite Valley Resort Hotel in Lira City. The matter is still before the court.
FOR MORE CLICK HERE
