A Ugandan rugby player seeking asylum in Wales has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison for the rape of a woman in Cardiff.
During the proceedings at Cardiff Crown Court, it was revealed that 32-year-old Philip Pariyo had developed a close friendship with the victim prior to the assault, which took place in a flat in June 2021.
Despite consistently denying the allegations, Pariyo was convicted of the crime in December 2024. He previously represented Uganda in Rugby Sevens at the 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow before going missing.
In a letter to Judge Celia Hughes, he expressed his sincere remorse to those affected by his actions. An impact statement from the victim was presented in court, detailing the enduring physical and psychological effects of the assault on her life.
“No one should ever endure what I experienced, fighting desperately for my life. The consequences have been profound, leaving me with an open wound that feels impossible to heal.
“It has made me feel unclean, numb, and forever marked. He forcefully invaded my body and left an indelible scar within me. He has become an unwelcome part of my existence that I cannot escape.
“No one should have to struggle for their life over something as fundamental as consent.”
Pariyo arrived in the UK in 2014 as a member of the Ugandan Rugby Sevens team for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He was one of two players who went missing after the event, and the following year, it was revealed that he had relocated to Cardiff.
In Cardiff, he sought asylum and played for St Peter’s Rugby Club in Roath before taking a position as a waste management worker for Cardiff Council.
St Peter’s confirmed that he has not participated in their games for “at least nine years.” In his defense, John Ryan stated that Pariyo sought asylum due to accusations of homosexuality, fearing persecution if he returned to Uganda, where homosexuality is illegal.
The court was informed that the initial meeting between the defendant and the woman occurred in 2019 during a funeral in Cardiff. Following this encounter, they developed a friendship, and in 2021, Pariyo and the woman, along with two others—including Pariyo’s pregnant girlfriend—stayed in the city.
During the sentencing, Judge Celia Hughes remarked that on the night of the assault, Pariyo persistently pressured the woman for sexual relations, which she declined. Ignoring her refusal, he proceeded to rape her. The following morning, they visited a pharmacy to obtain the morning-after pill, during which Pariyo suggested purchasing condoms, indicating his intention to engage in sexual activity later that day.
In her sentencing remarks, Judge Hughes described the incident as an “appalling attack and violation of a woman you referred to as a friend.” She noted that his not guilty plea was made despite compelling evidence against him, forcing the woman to recount her traumatic experience in a public setting.
“With your physical capabilities and your status in your sport, you should serve as a role model. Instead, you chose to overpower this woman at your discretion. You claimed innocence despite acknowledging sexual contact in your text messages.
“Because of your sexual greed, she will never regain the strong, confident woman she was before coming to Cardiff to see you.” Judge Hughes also indicated that the sentence would have negative implications for his asylum application.
