Father who killed son in ritual sacrifice jailed for 52 years

A father who killed his son in a ritual sacrifice in an attempt to become rich has been sentenced to 52 years in prison by the High court.

Justice David Batema heard that Hassan Kafudde brought the idea of sacrificing his son in a ritual murder in order to get riches. Bateema through the High court circuit in Iganga convicted and sentenced Muyita Issa (A1), Hassan Kafudde (A2) and Kabaale Mubaraka (A3) for the count of trafficking in persons contrary to section 4(a), 5(c) of the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act.

Court heard that on June 6, 2017, the convicts while in Musita village in Mayuge district chopped off the head and genitals of the child, MJ in a ritual sacrifice in search of quick wealth. Muyita pleaded guilty and entered a plea bargain and offered to testify on behalf of the prosecution as a witness.

He was sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment. The trial proceeded against Hassan Kafudde and Kabaale Mubaraka who pleaded not guilty.  During the trial, Muyita confessed that he walked with Kafudde from Musita trading centre to the sugarcane plantation wherein he presented his son MJ to Kafudde to slaughter him using a big long knife.

MJ was killed in a sugarcane plantation near a stream with Kafudde collecting the blood in a polythene bag and taking the chopped body parts in his bag. He also dug a shallow grave in which they buried the headless trunk of the sacrificed boy. Kafudde was consequentially found guilty of sacrificing the boy. However, it was later demonstrated in court that Kabaale a witch doctor who had shrines in Musita village and was notified by Hassan Kafudde of the action that had been committed didn’t actively participate in the murder.

Kabaale later went into hiding after the incident and was found guilty of accessory after the fact of the ritual murder contrary to section 394 of the Penal Code Act.  

Kafudde was sentenced to 52 years imprisonment while Kabaale Mubaraka was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment. While delivering his judgement, justice Batema said the that court condemns the ritual sacrifice of children, cutting off their bodies or dealing in body parts, adding that, the same are serious crimes and are the rarest kinds of criminality.    

Batema explained that he decided to slap Kafudde with a long custodial sentence because he was unremorseful throughout the court hearing and unwilling to show cause of regret for the offence committed. Batema ruled that Kafudde should spend 52 years in Kirinya prisons including the six years spent on remand.  

The judge found Kabaale guilty of being an accessory to commit a crime since he had knowledge about the crime committed, but he was hesitant to alert police about the same. Batema had sentenced him to three years imprisonment, but since Kabaale had already served six years on remand, he directed for his immediate release.  

Jacqueline Okui, the DPP spokesperson hailed the court for the landmark judgement, arguing that, it will deter other individuals from involving themselves in this form of criminality. Okui further challenged parents to be at the forefront of safeguarding their children’s wellbeing, noting that, acts of directly or indirectly involving themselves in child rights abuses like ritual murders will attract big custodial sentences.  

Meanwhile, Kafudde’s lawyer, James Haumba says that he is happy with the conclusion of the case, but he is waiting for further instructions from his client on how best they can proceed with the matter.   

The prosecutions guided investigations of this matter were guided by Aliwali Kizito chief state attorney and the matter was prosecuted by Racheal Bikhole assistant director of public prosecutions and head of prevention of trafficking in persons, Nyanzi Gladys assistant director of public prosecutions, Biira Peace chief state attorney and Arap Malinga a senior state attorney of the office of the director of public prosecutions.