Justice has finally been served in a case that horrified the Jinja community. On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, the High Court sitting in Jinja sentenced Mukisa Yusuf to life imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to charges of murder, aggravated defilement, and attempted murder.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), led by Senior State Attorney Atoe Moses, successfully prosecuted the case. According to the prosecution, the offences occurred on the night of May 13, 2022, when Yusuf—who had previously been in a relationship with the victims’ mother—was entrusted with the care of her three children while she travelled to Bugerere.
The court heard that Yusuf broke into the children’s rooms as they slept, sexually assaulting the two youngest victims. He then brutally attacked 12-year-old Ssezabi Benjamin with a machete, inflicting fatal injuries. Yusuf later turned his violence on the surviving victims, cutting them as well, before fleeing the scene.
Delivering the judgment, Hon. Lady Justice Joanita Gertrude Bushara convicted Yusuf on five counts: one of murder, two of aggravated defilement, and two of attempted murder.
In her sentencing remarks, Justice Bushara described the offences as “heinous and devastating,” stressing that the punishment should reflect both the gravity of the crimes and society’s strong condemnation of such acts.
“This case highlights the urgent need for stronger child protection safeguards and greater vigilance within domestic and cohabitation arrangements,” she added.
The court commended the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) for collecting the necessary evidence and Kyampisi Childcare Ministries for providing shelter and support to the survivors. The local community was also praised for cooperating with investigators to ensure justice was delivered.
With Yusuf now serving a life sentence, the ruling sends a clear message that crimes of such nature will be met with the full force of the law.
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