The Judiciary, acting on behalf of the government, has declared it illegal for police, chiefs, and assistant chiefs to settle rape cases outside of court.
This landmark decision comes as a response to a case filed by a rape victim who alleged being pressured by the police to settle her case with the perpetrator without proper legal proceedings.
Justice Anthony Mrima, in a ruling that emphasizes the constitutional and international rights protecting women from sexual violence, stated that settling rape cases outside court is unconstitutional.
The ruling consequently made it illegal for the police,Chiefs and assistant chiefs from settling such cases on their own without the involvement of the courts.
Culprits will now face the law rather than evading justice through out-of-court settlements mostly initiated by the police and local administrators taking the law into their own hands.
The case involved a student codenamed IW, who sued the Attorney General (AG) and Inspector General (IG) of Police, claiming that the government failed to pursue the culprit.
Despite the victim reporting the incident to the police, the investigating officer allegedly coerced her into settling the case out of court, undermining the criminal proceedings.
Shockingly, on average, at least 41 women become rape victims every day, according to data from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The decision reflects a commitment to upholding the rights of survivors and ensuring that justice is pursued through proper legal channels.
While the judge declined to order compensation for the victim, citing insufficient evidence of the out-of-court settlement, the ruling empowers survivors to pursue justice through the criminal justice system without undue pressure to settle privately.