Police officers were left in shock after a Portuguese national identified as Carlos Almeida Da-Costa who was arrested on Wednesday for marrying a 16-year-old girl, presented a sales agreement signed by the victim’s parents.
Almeida bought the girl with just a three-bedroom house. His arrest came after residents of Busibante in Najjera in Kira Municipality tipped off Kira Division Police that he had married off a teenager.
Police would later raid Almeida’s home where they found the teenager inside bedroom and arrested, took him to Kira Division police headquarters.
But, officers would later be shocked when Almeida claimed lawful ownership of the girl, saying he had even signed an agreement with her parents.
Fred Enanga Police Spokesperson told the press that Almeida presented a signed agreement bearing signatures of the teenager’s parents, Yoram Betamu and his wife, Josephine Twongirwe, both residents of Najjera where he offered the couple a three-bedroom house in exchange for their daughter.
According to Enanga, the parents told one of their neighbours that they married off their primary 6 daughter because she had overgrown and no longer fit to be in the primary.
Police decided to name and shame the girl’s parents to serve as a lesson to other parents since their conduct is illegal and punishable by law.
