The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has entered a plea bargain agreement with a former teacher of Step by Step Primary School, Mr. Kakooza Moses Aldo, to serve 25 years in prison for 18 sexual offences, including Aggravated Defilement, Aggravated Trafficking in Children and Indecent Assault. He was consequently convicted and sentenced by the International Crimes Division of the High Court presided over by Hon. Justice Dr. Andrew Bashaija.
Mr. Kakooza was indicted with five counts of Aggravated Defilement,and four counts of Indecent Assault under the Penal Code Act, and nine counts of Aggravated Trafficking in Children under the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2009.
The Prosecution alleged that between 2019 and 2020, Mr Kakooza, who was a teacher at Step by Step Primary School located at Kyewamala Road, Nansana in Wakiso District, performed sexual acts on five underage girls. It was also alleged that between 2019 and 2020, Mr Kakooza at Step by Step Primary School unlawfully and indecently assaulted four girls who were aged between 12 and 17 years.
It was also alleged that between 2018 and 2020, in areas of Uganda, namely Mukono and Wakiso District, the accused received, transported or harboured one of his victims for sexual exploitation. Furthermore, it was alleged that between 2019 and 2020, in Wakiso District, Kakooza sexually exploited other school girls.
Mr. Kakooza was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment for each offence of Aggravated Defilement and Aggravated Trafficking in Children and 4 years for Indecent Assault to run concurrently.
Both aggravating and mitigating factors were considered when arriving at the sentence. The serious nature of the offences, the number of victims involved (9), that the crimes were committed in a school setting and also a home setting where the accused had authority over the children, the physical and psychological harm occasioned to the victims, and abuse of trust. For mitigating factors, it was noted that the accused was a young man of 29 years with a dependent family, was a first offender and had opted to plead guilty at an early opportunity.
Before the plea bargain was entered, three out of several witnesses had testified.
The Prosecution was represented by Ms Jacquelyn Okui, Chief State Attorney from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
This case demonstrates the effectiveness of plea bargaining as a legal tool that expedites justice while reducing trauma for vulnerable victims, encouraging early guilty pleas for accused persons that are sure that they have committed offences, and conserving resources. Plea bargaining also minimises prolonged victim testimony protecting survivors’ psychological well-being.
The sentence imposed serves as a deterrent to potential offenders and a call to action for schools and authorities to strengthen safeguarding policies, vetting procedures, and reporting mechanisms.
Ultimately, this case exemplifies Uganda’s commitment to protecting children, ensuring justice, and fostering a safer environment within educational settings, while emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and reform to prevent future abuses.
