Masindi High Court acquits former head teacher in aggravated defilement case

Masindi: The Masindi High Court has acquitted Hosea Kiiza, the former head teacher of St. Kizito Muuro Primary School in Bujenje County, Masindi District, of aggravated defilement after ruling that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Kiiza, who was arrested in 2022, had been facing two counts of aggravated defilement involving two girls aged 14 and 15, both pupils at the school.

Last year, the court dismissed one of the cases involving the 14-year-old after prosecution witnesses repeatedly failed to appear in court.

In the remaining case, prosecutors alleged that Kiiza defiled the 15-year-old pupil during the second term of 2022.

During the trial, the former school matron, Judith Nyandera, and the Senior Woman Teacher testified that Kiiza had taken the girl out of the school premises on a Friday. Nyandera told court that the pupil returned the following morning and that Kiiza later called to confirm whether she had arrived safely.

The complainant, whose identity is withheld because she was a minor at the time of the alleged offence, testified that Kiiza coerced her into sexual acts when she was 15 years old.

In his defence, Kiiza denied the allegations, describing them as fabricated. He told court that on June 11, 2022, he had taken the pupil to Kinenabuhere Trading Centre to have her school uniform measured by a tailor. He added that his wife advised the girl to spend the night at their home because it was too late to return her to school.

A defence witness, Kiiza’s 12-year-old son, testified that he slept in the same room as the girl and that nothing unusual occurred during the night.

The judgment, initially scheduled for April 2025, was delayed several times following the transfer of the trial judge, Justice Isah Sserunkuma.

In a ruling read by Masindi High Court Registrar Juliet Nakitende on Wednesday July 15, 2026, the court held that although a medical examination conducted at Bwijanga Health Centre IV confirmed that a sexual act had occurred, the prosecution failed to reliably identify Kiiza as the perpetrator. The court therefore found that the offence had not been proved beyond reasonable doubt and acquitted him.

Speaking after the ruling, Kiiza welcomed the decision and expressed relief at regaining his freedom.

“I am happy that justice has finally been served and I have regained my freedom,” Kiiza said after the court ruling.

However, Lovious Muganyizi, an aunt to the complainant, said she was dissatisfied with the judgment.

“We are not convinced by the court’s decision. If he did nothing wrong, why did he take the child from school without the consent of her guardians?” Muganyizi questioned.

The acquittal means Kiiza is legally presumed innocent of the charges unless the decision is overturned by a higher court on appeal.

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