Ugandan Swimmer Bailed on Rape Charge

A Ugandan Olympic swimmer has been granted bail by a Sydney court on a charge of raping a teenage girl.

Joe Atuhaire, 22, left the Olympic athletes’ village at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games last Friday after police issued a warrant for his arrest. He was detained in Adelaide at the weekend.

Making his first appearance in court on Monday after being returned to Sydney, Atuhaire was granted bail of A$20,000 ($11,000) pending a further court hearing set for October 19.

He has been charged with sexual intercourse without consent against a 17-year-old girl in Sydney’s western suburb of Lidcombe, near the athletes’ village.

Atuhaire, from Kampala, competed in his swimming event at the Games on September 16, finishing last in his heat.

Source: SOCOG