A Ugandan rugby player who sought asylum in Wales has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison for raping a woman in Cardiff.
Philip Pariyo, 32, was found guilty in December 2024 after denying the charges. The attack took place in June 2021, following a period in which Pariyo and the victim had become close friends. The court heard that he pressured her for sex before forcing himself on her.
In an emotional impact statement, the victim described the lasting physical and psychological trauma caused by the assault, saying she had to “fight for her life” and now feels “tainted” by the experience.
Pariyo first arrived in the UK in 2014 as part of Uganda’s Rugby Sevens team for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow but disappeared after the tournament. He later sought asylum in Cardiff, claiming he feared persecution in Uganda due to allegations of homosexuality.
During sentencing, Judge Celia Hughes condemned Pariyo’s actions as a “serious violation” of someone he called a friend. She also noted that his refusal to plead guilty forced the victim to relive the ordeal in court. Additionally, the judge stated that his conviction would negatively impact his asylum application.
