By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
WAKISO
The police in Kampala Metropolitan are holding in custody a 39-year-old man on allegations of defilement.
The suspect, Moses Ssebagala, a boda boda rider and is resident of Mabombwe village, Mendez Sub-County, Wakiso district.
He was arrested after a social media video alleging he was defiling an eight-year-old girl went viral causing a public outcry
Preliminary investigations indicate that the victim was playing outside with her sister when Ssebagala approached them on April 16.
“It is alleged that the suspect gave the children a phone to watch cartoons. He then placed the victim on his lap, where he was allegedly seen defiling her,” Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) deputy spokesperson, SP Rachael Kawala said in a statement on Friday.
The video, which circulated widely on platforms like WhatsApp and X (formerly Twitter), shows a man in a domestic setting committing the act while the child appeared distracted by the mobile device.
SP Kawala confirmed that the suspect is currently being held on charges of aggravated defilement. Under the Penal Code Act, aggravated defilement carries a maximum sentence of death upon conviction.
“The suspect is currently in custody and will be produced in court as investigations continue. We remain committed to thoroughly investigating such acts and ensuring justice for victims,” she added.
The police have also issued a stern warning to the public regarding child safety.
“We strongly condemn all forms of child abuse. We urge parents and guardians to remain vigilant and closely supervise their children at all times,” the KMP spokesperson noted.
The arrest comes at a time when child rights activists are raising the alarm over the increasing use of digital gadgets to lure unsuspecting children into sexual abuse.
The 2025 Annual Crime Report reveals a 14.8% decrease in defilement cases, with 10,492 incidents reported compared to 12,312 the previous year. Of these, 7,019 were simple defilement and 3,473 were aggravated defilement, showing a similar 14.7% drop in the most severe categories. A total of 10,493 victims were identified, comprising 10,328 female juveniles, 128 male juveniles and 37 female adults.
The report highlights deeply concerning suspect profiles: 10,025 victims were defiled by “others,” but significant breaches of trust occurred where 94 pupils and 23 students were defiled by teachers, 65 by guardians, and 40 by parents. In addition, 191 children were defiled by HIV-positive suspects and 55 victims were children living with disabilities.
Age-specific data shows that children aged 15–17 are at the highest risk accounting for 7,750 victims, followed by 1,894 in the 9–14 age bracket, and 812 children aged 0–8 years, while adults accounted for 37 victims.
Children rights activists say these findings underscore the persistent vulnerability of children, especially adolescent girls to sexual violence, and called for urgent need for stronger prevention, protection, and accountability measures.
Meanwhile, medical examinations for the victim are reportedly underway as detectives gather more evidence to bolster the prosecution’s case. Kawala said the suspect (Ssebagala) is expected to be arraigned before the Wakiso Magistrate’s Court later this week.
