One of the convicts (L) with her baby and her co-convicts seated in court before taking plea. Photos by Alfred Ochwo

COURT|CRIME|SEX PARTY

Eleven of the twenty-two people who were arrested by Police over sex partying on Saturday have been charged and convicted.

They were charged and convicted on six counts of disobedience of lawful orders, negligent act likely to spread infection of disease, keeping a brothel, indecent practices, prostitution, and promoting trafficking in persons.

The offences attract maximum jail sentences of three and seven years' imprisonment, respectively.  

The convicts include, Suzan Akwir, 25, Phiona Nalubega, 27, Prossy Nabukenya alias Nakimera, 20, Esther Apio, 26, Christine Nsereko, 21, Edith Nakimbugwe, 22, and Mariam Nakalembe, 20.

Others are Ali Mugisha, 26, Sabra Achen, 23, Shakira Nanteza, 28, and Irene Namatovu, 28, majority sex workers.

Grade One Magistrate, Joan Aciro, of Kira Chief Magistrates' Court convicted the group having pleaded guilty on their own plea.

However, the owner of Tower Guest House in Kireka, Sharon Amutusimire, 26, where the offences were committed, denied the charges together with Yesiga Mugenyi, 20, a boda boda rider.

Amutusimire faces separate charges of keeping a brothel and promoting trafficking in persons.

 "This court hereby convicts you on your own plea. But a plea of not guilty is entered for Amutusimire and Mugenyi," Aciro said.

Charges

Prosecution alleged that the accused and others still at large on October 10, 2020 at Kireka Tower Guest House, Kira Municipality in Wakiso district while in a sex party disobeyed lawful orders, namely curfew, of being in their homes between 9:00pm and to 5:30am issued by President Yoweri Museveni.

It is also alleged that the accused in the same place, unlawfully and negligently engaged in a social gathering, an act they knew to be likely to spread infection of disease, namely COVID-19, a disease dangerous to human life.

Prosecution also alleges that Amutusimire and others still at large since 2019 at Kireka Namugongo division in Kira has been keeping rooms in Tower Guest House for purposes of prostitution.

Amutusimire is also accused of using the guesthouse for purposes of commercial sexual exploitation of a 16-year-old girl (name not disclosed).

The case was adjourned to October 14, 2020 for sentencing and hearing to those who denied.