Godfrey Muwumuza, a teacher at Kabojja Junior School in the dock in court
A primary school teacher, who attempted to sodomise his pupil while away on a school field trip, has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail. Godfrey Muwumuza, a former teacher with Kabojja Junior School in the upscale of Kololo, in Kampala District, pleaded guilty to the crime in a plea-bargaining deal with the prosecution.
“Following the plea bargain agreement dated June 23, 2025, entered between the state, represented by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and the convict, which plea bargain agreement has been endorsed by this court I hereby sentence the convict,” presiding Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi ruled yesterday.
Adding: “On count one, the convict is sentenced to four years and six months in prison. I do deduct the one month and fourteen days spent on remand. The convict will serve four years, four months, and 16 days.
On count two, the convict is sentenced to three years in prison. I deduct the one month and fourteen days spent on remand, and he will serve a period of two years, two months, and six days in prison. The sentence will run concurrently. You do have a right to appeal the sentence in the High Court of Uganda within fourteen days.”
He was facing aggravated homosexuality, which earns up to the maximum penalty of death by hanging. The 43-year-old faced another charge of indecent assault. Plea Bargaining is a justice system where an accused person voluntarily admits to the crime and pleads guilty to it in exchange for a lenient sentence or a lesser charge.
Prosecution led by Ms Joan Keko told the court that during the mitigation process, they considered the aggravating factors, which included abuse of a position of trust and authority.
The offences were committed repeatedly against a vulnerable and dependent person, with a significant age disparity of 32 years between the 43-year-old accused and the 11-year-old victim, whose name has been withheld because he is a minor. Other aggravating factors were that the offence was committed during a school field trip in the presence of another pupil who was a friend of the victim, the potential for long-term harm, a breach of safeguarding duty, premeditation, and the impact on the community.
In the plea-bargaining agreement, Muwumuza, through his lawyer, noted that he was a first-time offender with no previous convictions, was remorseful and regrets the trend of events, pleaded guilty, thus saving the court’s time, and that he is a sole breadwinner. Muwumuza, who accepted all the charges, when asked in court what he had to say, told the trial Chief Magistrate that he had nothing to say. It is the State’s case that Muwumuza, while acting in his capacity as a teacher and person of authority, attempted to perform a sexual act on an 11-year-old male pupil, who is in Primary Seven.
The victim’s identity has been withheld following child protection laws. Court documents indicate that while the pupils were returning from the school trip, Muwumuza reportedly felt a sexual urge and sought to act on it. He allegedly asked the minor to assist him with a torch, and in the process of handing it to him, the teacher grabbed the boy’s hand and forced it toward his genitals, initiating a sexual act.
The attempt was interrupted when another pupil walked out, causing the accused to momentarily release the victim. However, according to the same documents, Muwumuza later resumed his inappropriate behaviour aboard the school bus. He is alleged to have sat next to the same pupil and repeatedly grabbed his hand, again attempting to force the child to touch his private parts.
The victim, feeling increasingly unsafe, changed seats and moved to a different section of the bus. Nevertheless, Muwumuza allegedly followed him and continued the same actions, showing persistence in his conduct.
The victim then used his phone to send a distress message via WhatsApp to his mother, detailing the abuse he was experiencing. The mother, upon receiving the message, promptly reported the incident to police authorities. The swift intervention by law enforcement led to Muwumuza’s arrest.
During police interrogation, a charge-and-caution statement was obtained from the suspect. According to the police report, Muwumuza reportedly admitted to the allegations during the interview.
Other factors
The victim is 11 years old, which is a very young and highly vulnerable age. The victim was the convict’s pupil, meaning he was dependent on the convict for education, guidance, and safety within the school environment, a vulnerability the convict took advantage of– Ms Joan Keko.