In a recent court case held on Friday, the High Court in Jinja City sentenced a 28-year-old woman, Felista Namaganda, to life imprisonment. This sentence was handed down after she was found guilty of sacrificing her landlord’s 4-year-old daughter, Isabella Trinity Nakisuyi.
Isabella Trinity Nakisuyi’s lifeless body was discovered on September 30, 2021, in a sugarcane plantation located in Kakira, Jinja District. Her head was found separately in Wanyange, another suburb within Jinja District. The victim was the daughter of Annet Nakisasi and John Mulodi, who resided in Kakira Cell in Jinja District.
Following the tragic murder of Isabella, the authorities arrested three individuals connected to the case. They included Felista Namaganda, her boyfriend Pastor Joseph Sselubiri from the Healing and Deliverance Church in Market Cell, Kakira Town Council in Jinja District, and Pastor Isma Buyinza Ssekabira, who was also known as Israel.
The charges against this trio included two counts: aggravated trafficking, as per Section 3(1), 4 (a), and Section (5)(a) of the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act (2009), and murder, as per Section 188 and 189 of the Penal Code Act Cap 120.
Jinja High Court Judge, Justice Winfred Nabisinde, sentenced Pastor Sselubiri to life imprisonment for the murder and an additional 30 years for child trafficking after he pleaded guilty. In contrast, Ms. Namaganda and Pastor Ssekabira alias Israel opted for a trial.
Following a weeks-long trial, Pastor Sselubiri was acquitted of the charges. However, Namaganda was found guilty of aggravated trafficking, resulting in a 30-year sentence, and also guilty of murder, leading to a life imprisonment. These sentences are to run concurrently.
Justice Nabisinde, in delivering her ruling, took into account the circumstances surrounding the victim’s trafficking with the intent of sacrifice. She stated, “I will imprison you for 30 years over aggravated trafficking and life imprisonment for murder, but you can appeal against the conviction and the sentence within 14 days.”
In her defense, Namaganda denied any involvement in the sacrifice, claiming she was at her father’s shop on the fateful day. However, State prosecutor Pamela Orogot sought the death penalty, while defense lawyer Robert Esarait requested a 20-year sentence on the grounds that Namaganda is a mother of a young child who needs a parent.
Justice Nabisinde concluded her ruling by saying, “The degree of murder was fatal. The deceased was an innocent little child, vulnerable; she could not defend herself. You (Namaganda) abused the position of trust the child had in you.”
