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A commissioner in the finance ministry Dr Maxwell Adea is expected to return to the International Crimes Division of the High Court today, April 9, 2024, for the hearing of an aggravated human trafficking case against him.

Adea, the interdicted commissioner for planning in the microfinance department, is accused of trafficking girls from Oyam district allegedly for sexual exploitation.

Justice Andrew Bashaija, the head of the court, is handling the case.

It is alleged that in January 2014 Adea, using deception transported, transferred, and haboured girls (name withheld) at Kawempe Division in Kampala for sexual exploitation.

The prosecution further alleges that Adea in the same year at Ngai sub-county in Oyam district, using deception, recruited a 17-year-old girl (name withheld) to Kazo, in Kawempe for purposes of sexual exploitation.

He is accused of luring young girls with the view of providing for their education in Kampala but Police accused him of sexually exploiting the girls. 

Adea first appeared before Nabweru Court and was remanded to Luzira Prison until he was committed to the War Crime Division to face trial.

Adea is charged with aggravated human trafficking. If convicted, he is liable to death.

Police investigations show that Adea picked several girls from Karamoja and Lango sub-regions in September 2013, promising to find them jobs, however on their arrival in Kampala, Adea took them to his home for purposes of sexual exploitation.

Following the unbearable torture, two of the girls (name withheld) reported Adea to Kawempe Police Station before the matter was later forwarded to the Special Investigations Unit, Kireka.

In defence, Adea said he is being framed after he refused to get involved in corruption tendencies.