A Ugandan rugby player, Philip Pariyo, who sought asylum in Wales has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison for raping a woman in Cardiff. The incident took place in June 2021, where Pariyo, 32, assaulted a woman in a flat in the city. Despite his initial denial of the charges, he was found guilty of the offense in December 2024.
Pariyo, who had represented Uganda in Rugby Sevens at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, had disappeared after the Games. He later resurfaced in Cardiff, where he had claimed asylum and was playing for St Peter’s Rugby Club before working as a waste management worker for Cardiff Council.
The victim, in her impact statement read in court, described the physical and mental trauma she endured as a result of the attack. She expressed the lasting impact it had on her, feeling violated and powerless, unable to heal from the ordeal.
The court heard that Pariyo had met the woman in 2019 at a funeral, and they had become friends. In 2021, they stayed together in Cardiff with two others, including Pariyo’s pregnant girlfriend. On the night of the assault, Pariyo pressured the woman for sex, disregarding her refusal and proceeding to rape her.
Judge Celia Hughes condemned Pariyo’s actions, stating that his physical strength and status as a sportsman should have made him a role model, not an assailant. She criticized his not-guilty plea, which forced the victim to relive the traumatic experience in court. The judge emphasized the impact of Pariyo’s actions on the victim, noting that she would never be the same due to his “sexual greed.”
In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Hughes highlighted that the conviction would have repercussions on Pariyo’s asylum claim. The court’s decision sends a strong message about accountability and consequences for such heinous acts of violence.
It is crucial to recognize and address the long-lasting effects of sexual assault on survivors and to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions. The verdict in this case serves as a reminder of the importance of justice and support for victims of sexual violence.
