Nansana teacher jailed 25 years for defiling five pupils

A former teacher of English at Step by Step Primary School in Nansana in Wakiso district has been jailed for 25 years for defiling five pupils.

Moses Kakooza alias Mpanga Aldo, 29, has been battling eighteen charges, including aggravated defilement, aggravated trafficking in children and indecent assault of the girls contrary to the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2009.

However, Kakooza, who had previously denied the charges, pleaded guilty to the charges and entered into a plea bargain agreement with the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in exchange for a lenient jail term.

The sentence has been imposed on him by the International Crimes Division of the High Court head judge, Dr Andrew Bashaija, after endorsing the plea bargain agreement.

The prosecution, led by Chief State Attorney Jacquelyn Okui, said that between 2019 and 2020, Kakooza, who was a teacher at Step by Step Primary School at Kyewamala Road, Nansana Municipality in Wakiso district, performed sexual acts on five underage girls.

Evidence in court records shows that between 2019 and 2020, Kakooza unlawfully and indecently assaulted the girls who were aged between 12 and 17 years.

In regard to trafficking in children, the prosecution said that between 2018 and 2020 in the places of Mukono and Wakiso districts, the accused received, transported or harboured some of his victims for sexual exploitation.

The case demonstrates the effectiveness of plea bargain as a legal tool that expedites criminal justice while reducing trauma for vulnerable victims, encouraging early guilty pleas for accused persons who committed offences and conserving resources.

Plea bargain also minimises prolonged victim testimony, protecting survivors' psychological well-being.  

Commenting on the development, Okui said 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 the DPP’s commitment to protecting children, ensuring justice, and fostering a safer environment within educational settings while emphasising the need for continued vigilance and reform to prevent future abuses.

How Kakooza lured the girls

The indictment shows that Kakooza was initially a teacher of English disguised as a trainer for girls in music, dance and drama.

He later selected the victims and took them to his rented premises, bought them eats and alcoholic drinks, including Eagle and Smirnoff and defiled them.

It is indicated that during the COVID-19 pandemic period, Kakooza also used to pick the girls from their respective homes pretending that he was training them in music, dance and drama and defiled them.

How Kakooza was detected

The indictment shows that Kakooza was unmasked after one of the parents of the victims, who was concerned about the teacher returning the children home late in the night, complained to the school bursar.

The indictment shows that the school bursar instead warned them to be careful because there were reports that the said teacher had molested pupils.  

Not long after, one of the girls fell sick, and when taken to the hospital, it emerged that she was pregnant.

When probed by her parents about the pregnancy, the girl revealed that Kakooza was performing sexual intercourse with her.

The girl further revealed that Kakooza used to take them to Timeless bar at Yesu-Amala in Nansana for swimming and afterwards bought the alcohol in order to have sexual intercourse with them.

Consequently, one of the victim's mothers reported the matter to Ven. Richard Matovu, who investigated the matter and then escalated it to the former minister for youth and children, Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, who directed the police to arrest the teacher.

The victims were subjected to medical examination, and the results showed that all had been sexually abused because of ruptured hymens.