In a recent court ruling, Felisita Namaganda, the wife of a pastor in Jinja district, has been sentenced to life in prison for her involvement in the murder of a four-year-old girl, Isabella Trinity Nakisuyi, and aggravated trafficking of children in 2021. The Jinja High Court, presided over by Justice Winfred Nabisinde, handed down the verdict.
Namaganda was found guilty of aggravated trafficking and murder. She was sentenced to 30 years for the former and life imprisonment for the latter, with both sentences to be served concurrently.
During the trial, Justice Nabisinde emphasized that the evidence presented by the prosecution was compelling and sufficient to establish Namaganda’s active participation in these criminal activities. She described Namaganda’s involvement as calculated, intended, and brutal, emphasizing the seriousness of the offenses.
Justice Nabisinde further stated, “A1 (Namaganda’s) involvement in the offenses with her co-accused was calculated, intended, and brutal. It was a sinister offense which shows a heartless woman not fit to live in society. This act was gruesome and unless courts of judicature condemn it, it will gain momentum. I hope that the sentence will help to deter any such occurrences.”
The case involved Namaganda and her husband, Pastor Joseph Serubiri, who led the Deliverance and Healing Ministries Church in Kakira, Jinja district. They were arrested following the disappearance and murder of Isabella Trinity Nakisuyi on September 30, 2021.
The court had previously sentenced Pastor Joseph Serubiri to 30 years for aggravated child trafficking and life imprisonment for the murder of Nakisuyi. However, Serubiri had pleaded guilty to the charges, while Namaganda and another co-accused, Pastor Buyinza Isma Sekabira, denied their involvement, leading to their separate trials.
During the proceedings, witnesses, including the child’s father, John Mulodi, testified that Namaganda was the last person seen with Isabella Trinity Nakisuyi before her disappearance. The close proximity of their residences had made the child accustomed to Namaganda, and no one suspected any malicious intent.
Serubiri confessed that he had received a “vision” to sacrifice a child for spiritual power and wealth and had shared this with Namaganda, who gave her approval. He admitted that Namaganda had assisted him in beheading the child inside their makeshift church in Market cell, Kakira, while keeping watch to prevent any witnesses.
After the murder, Namaganda reportedly disposed of the child’s remains in a green polythene bag and buried them in Wanyange Lake village. Despite being aware of the crime, she did not report it to the authorities and continued to interact with her husband, who visited her at her new residence.
The court considered the testimonies of 14 prosecution witnesses, including a DNA analyst and a pathologist, which corroborated each other and supported the guilty verdict.
In a surprising turn of events, Pastor Buyinza of Deliverance and Healing Ministries Church in Ganda, Nansana, was exonerated by the court. Witnesses failed to provide incriminating evidence against him, leading to his acquittal. The court cited insufficiency of evidence linking him to the crimes.
The decision was met with approval from the parents of the deceased, John Mulodi and Annet Nakisaasi, who expressed satisfaction with the court’s ruling, emphasizing that justice had been served. Nakisaasi, in particular, remarked on her previous trust in Namaganda and the subsequent betrayal, deeming the sentence well-deserved.
