YMCA student Brian Isiko was sentenced to two years imprisonment over cyber and sexual harassment. The 25-year-old student was found guilty of harassing Kabarole Woman MP Sylvia Rwabwogo. Hon. Sylvia broke down in court last week as she narrated how the student harassed her through text messages and phone-calls.
While the court case might have attracted mixed reactions, Hon. Sylvia revealed that she suspected Brain of scheming to kill her. Speaking in an interview, Sylvia stated that she had endured ‘torture’ for the last eight months. When asked whether she feels sympathy, as a parent to the young man, Sylvia stated that Brian put her life in danger.
“As a mother, I would sympathise but he put my life in danger. I don’t know which parent would be happy with that! He has been harassing me for eight months now”, she stated.
I blocked him on Facebook
Hon. Sylvia revealed that after Brian made several attempts to woo her through Facebook, she was forced to block him. However, Brian was unfazed! He instead resorted to sending text messages and making phone calls.
According to Sylvia, Brian would make these calls late night, day time and early morning hours.
“I am a politician. I got concerned for my life. Imagine somebody you have never met starts calling you in the night, morning and throughout the day. At times, I would be going for work then he would call me just before I left my home. I got scared. It was like he was somewhere monitoring my movements”, she stated.
I hired and borrowed cars
Hon. Sylvia revealed that she was forced to hire and borrow cars to disguise her movements because she felt her life was in danger.
” I thought it was a normal approach but it was not. I stopped using my car. Whenever I was about to leave my home, he would call and say he was waiting to see me. He would send text messages.I had to hire and borrow cars from friends. I hired private security. I had to cancel those programs for the day. I had not done much because I have cancelled several programs. I am a politician. I have to move!”
Don’t judge me
To those blaming her, Hon. Sylvia says she should not be judged for the outcomes of the court.
“If anyone woman’s life is threatened, she must act. We need to be vigilant to end senseless killings of our people and especially women! Some are blaming, others are supportive while some are saying the punishment is too harsh. The feeling is mutual.”
When he got bail, she continued
Sylvia stated that Police commenced investigation on June 11 and the student was arrested and later got bail. However, he continued to send her messages and make phone-calls.
We are committing crimes on social media without knowing
According to Sylvia, many social media users are committing crimes and are unaware of it.
“We have a long way to regulate social media. It started as an innocent thing but now people are using it for something else”.
Brian is free to appeal
According to Sylvia Rwabwogo, Brian Isiko, just like any other Ugandan is free to appeal the sentence. Police connived with Sylvia to invite Brian to date at a restaurant. He fell in the trap was later convicted.