KAMPALA– The High Court International Crimes Division presided by Justice Richard Wejuli on Friday sentenced , Kabale based teacher , Junior Tukwasibwe to 46 years imprisonment on charge of Aggravated Trafficking in Children, 10 years imprisonment for Trafficking in Persons, 46 years’ imprisonment for Aggravated Defilement and Rape respectively, 30 years’ imprisonment for the other charge of Aggravated Trafficking in Children, to run concurrently, and a fine of UGX 100,000 for Operating an Unapproved Children’s Home.
In addition, the Court ordered Tukwasibwe to pay compensation of 5,000,000/= to each of the victims in respect of the first four charges totaling UGX 15,000,000
The Office of the DPP represented by Chief State Attorney Joseph Kyomuhendo and Senior State Attorney Marion Ben-Bella presented the aggravating factors of the case including the seriousness and prevalence of offences of Aggravated Defilement and Trafficking in Persons especially those committed by persons in positions of trust over children.
Court heard it that, Tukwasibwe was a director of a Community Based Organization (CBO) who occupied a position of responsibility and authority, which he gravely abused, that he preyed on the vulnerability of the children and young adults who were dependent on the CBO for sponsorship and basic care, the repeated sexual violations, the pattern of systemic exploitation, use of deception, threats of death, expulsion and other forms of coercion to perpetrate and conceal his conduct, breach of trust and the fact that the children’s home was grossly inadequate; exposing 20 to 40 children to unacceptable conditions and risk.
Earlier on, Court convicted Tukwasibwe on evidence that he committed the crimes under his unlicensed Community Based Organization called Educate a child Street Children Uganda based in Kabale. The Organization operated between 2013 and 2018 as a Children’s Home before he was arrested.
Court also learnt it that Tukwasibwe, a social worker and teacher, used the promise of educational sponsorship and shelter to attract vulnerable children into his care.
