Pastor Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Child Sacrifice and Trafficking

The High Court in Jinja City has delivered a life imprisonment sentence to Pastor Joseph Sserubiri, aged 30, of the Deliverance and Healing Ministry in Kakira Town Council, Jinja District. The sentence is in relation to the ritual sacrifice of four-year-old Isabella Trinity Nakisuyi, who was the daughter of their landlord, and an additional 30 years for child trafficking.

The tragic incident occurred in September 2021 when the innocent child was allegedly sacrificed by Pastor Sserubiri with the assistance of his girlfriend, Felista Namaganda. The court found the two co-defendants, including Ismail Ssekabira, a senior pastor from their main church in Nansana, Wakiso District, guilty of child trafficking.

During the trial, Pastor Sserubiri pleaded guilty to all the charges, while his accomplices maintained their innocence. In her ruling, Justice Winfred Nabisinde emphasized the severity of the crime, describing it as a well-planned and calculated act with the intention of personal enrichment. She highlighted the need to ensure justice for the innocent child and prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

Justice Nabisinde further revealed that cases of human sacrifice are on the rise in the Busoga Sub-region, a concerning trend evident from the latest annual crime report, which recorded 72 ritual sacrifice cases in 2022, compared to 46 cases in the previous year. Despite stringent laws and the threat of severe penalties, the practice continues to persist, particularly in rural areas.

The court heard that Pastor Sserubiri claimed he had a dream instructing him to make a sacrifice to enlarge his church, and tragically, he acted upon this disturbing vision. The victim’s remains were eventually discovered on the shores of Lake Victoria and in a sugarcane plantation, leading to the arrest of the pastor and his accomplices.

In the face of the conviction, Seth Rukundo of Rukundo Seth and Company Advocates, who represented Pastor Sserubiri, stated their intention to appeal against the judgement. Justice Nabisinde clarified that the convict could appeal the sentence but not the judgment itself. On the other hand, the deceased’s parents expressed satisfaction with the sentence, finding some solace in the acknowledgment of the crime committed against their daughter.

This heart-wrenching case serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing battle against ritual sacrifice and highlights the pressing need for continued efforts to eradicate this abhorrent practice from society. As the community struggles to come to terms with the loss of young Isabella Trinity Nakisuyi, the verdict stands as a solemn warning to those who would dare to commit such heinous acts.

The court will reconvene on August 18 to address any further developments related to this case and to continue the pursuit of justice for the innocent victims of ritual sacrifice and trafficking in the region.