High Court convicts two over trafficking five children
The judge convicted the two men jointly on counts one and two, relating to the trafficking of two children, Razak and Hanisha Noordin.
Justice Andrew Bashaija convicted Mbazira, also known as Sewajja and Buyondo Muhammad Jamir Walukagga, and Higenyi, also known as Taata Abdu Razak, on October 28, 2026. (File photo)
________________
The High Court’s International Crimes Division has convicted Sheikh Abdurashid Mbazira and Aramathan Higenyi of aggravated trafficking in five children.
Justice Andrew Bashaija convicted Mbazira, also known as Sewajja and Buyondo Muhammad Jamir Walukagga, and Higenyi, also known as Taata Abdu Razak, on October 28, 2026.
The judge convicted the two men jointly on counts one and two, relating to the trafficking of two children, Razak and Hanisha Noordin.
Higenyi was separately convicted on count three over the trafficking of Ibrahim Nuwasi, while Mbazira was convicted on counts four and five, relating to Abdu Gafaz Sumaya and Abdu Gafaz Ubaya.
The five counts arose from allegations that the children had been recruited, transported or harboured for exploitation at Mbazira’s home in Namasegere village, Kyampisi subcounty, Mukono district.
The prosecution was represented by Senior State Attorney Benbella Marion, while the accused were represented by Sylvia Ebitu Namawejje and Samuel Wanda.
In his judgment, Bashaija found that the prosecution had proved that all five victims were below 18 years of age and that the accused had participated in acts of recruitment, transportation, receipt or harbouring.
The court heard that Mbazira, who taught Islamic studies, had several children staying at his home.
Samuel Karugaba, a social worker with Kyampisi Child Care Ministries, told the court that the organisation provided the children with food, clothing and shelter after police sought its assistance.
Some of the children were later reunited with their parents after their identities were established.
The children’s parents testified that they had agreed to send some of them for education or Islamic instruction. Mbazira admitted that several children had been brought to his home to study Islam, but said some were his biological children and others belonged to their parents.
He also told the court that his home was not a licensed school.
In count three, the court heard that Nuwasi had been taken from his home in Mayuge district to Busia by his maternal uncle, Magidu, for schooling.
Nuwasi testified that Higenyi later picked him up from a home in Busia and travelled with him through Kampala towards Kasese.
He said Higenyi told him they were going to see his wife and instructed him to tell anyone who asked that he was his father.
The arresting officer, DSP David Tumusiime, testified that Higenyi presented a national identity card bearing the name Andrew Kwesiga and later produced another in the name Aramathan Higenyi. Both cards carried the same photograph.
Tumusiime said Higenyi attempted to destroy the first identity card but was stopped by police.
Nuwasi and Higenyi were subsequently taken to Kampala.
Higenyi denied being arrested in Kasese and disputed travelling with Nuwasi. However, the judge rejected his alibi defence, relying on the evidence of the arresting officer and the boy.
The judge found that Higenyi had transported Razak and Hanisha Noordin from their mother’s care in Busia to Mbazira’s home in Mukono, where Mbazira received and harboured them.
The court also found that Higenyi had received and transported Nuwasi from Busia towards Kasese, while Mbazira had received and kept Sumaya and Ubaya at his home.
Bashaija held that the prosecution had proved the essential elements of aggravated trafficking in children under the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act.
The judge noted that where the victims are children, the law does not require the prosecution to prove the means used to traffic them or the consent of the children or their parents to the acts of exploitation.
The court consequently convicted both men on the counts brought against them.