The Director of a Community Based Organisation (CBO) has been sentenced to serve 46 years in prison on two charges of Aggravated Trafficking in Children, one charge of Trafficking in Persons, one charge of Aggravated Defilement, one charge of Rape and one charge of Operating an unapproved Children’s Home.
Tukwasibwe Junior who was convicted last week, was on Friday, 27th June, 2025 handed the custodial sentence by Justice Richard Wejuli of the High Court International Crimes Division. The 36 year old Kabale-based teacher exploited vulnerable girls aged between 14 and 16 years.
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Tukwasibwe had set up a children’s home in Gaaju Cell, Nyabikoni Ward, Central Division, under the pretense of caring for vulnerable girls between 2013 and 2018. However, he reportedly used the project as a front to sexually exploit them.
According to the Office of the Director Public Prosecutions that prosecuted the case, Tukwasibwe who was a director of a Community Based Organisation (CBO) occupied a position of responsibility and authority, which he gravely abused.
ODPP says Tukwasibwe preyed on the vulnerability of the children and young adults who were dependent on the CBO for sponsorship and basic care, repeatedly abusing them sexually.
“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 was grave,” reads a statement issued by the ODPP.
Tukwasibwe was sentenced as follows: : 46 years’ imprisonment for one 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.
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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 the offences of Aggravated Defilement and Trafficking in Persons especially those committed by persons in positions of trust over children.
