The International Crimes Division of the High Court of Uganda has sentenced a man named Muhammad Walusansa Muzaaya to 16 years in prison after finding him guilty of child trafficking.
Muzaaya was arrested in 2013 when authorities were informed that in his home on Buvuma Island, there were 39 children working in his fields but not attending school.
Investigations revealed that of these children, only nine were his biological offspring. He was unable to even provide the names of the parents of the rest.
When asked why he did not send these children to school, he explained that he educated them himself, but investigations showed that he lacked the knowledge to teach them, except for providing Islamic teachings.
The prosecution demonstrated that these teachings, known as ‘Asalaf’, are typically provided by terrorist groups; Al Qaeda and ADF operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The investigation also found that the children in Muzaaya’s home were to be taken to the DRC, especially since some of their parents were already there.
Based on an agreement Muzaaya made with the prosecution during the trial on April 11, 2024, where he admitted to all charges, the court decided to reduce his sentence, sentencing him to 16 years in prison.”
