Lwengo defiler to celebrate 100th birthday in prison
The High Court in Masaka sentenced Maalo to 50 years in prison for the aggravated defilement of five schoolchildren aged five to eight.
Lwengo defiler to celebrate 100th birthday in prison
By Dismus Buregeya
Journalists @New Vision
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Lwengo district resident Mohamed Maaro aka Jaja Maalo, 70, will likely spend the rest of his life in prison after he was convicted and sentenced for defiling five underage girls.
The High Court in Masaka sentenced Maalo to 50 years in prison for the aggravated defilement of five schoolchildren aged five to eight. The ruling, delivered by Masaka Resident Judge Justice Fatuma Nanziri, ensures Maalo, if he survives his sentence, would be 120 years old upon release.
The court heard how Maaro, a former community guide tasked with escorting children home from school in Lwengo, exploited his position to sexually assault the victims in toilets, bushes and their family homes.
Lwengo district resident Mohamed Maaro aka Jaja Maalo, 70. (Courtesy photo)
Medical evidence confirmed he infected the children with sexually transmitted infections (STIs), a factor that aggravated his sentencing.
The July 2, 2025, trial was part of a special high court session focused on tackling rising sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Greater Masaka. Of 45 SGBV cases reviewed, 37 resulted in convictions.
The US-funded Okoa Refugee Organisation, which supported the prosecution, revealed that over 200 SGBV cases were reported in 2024 across Lwengo, Masaka, and neighbouring districts. The organisation has pledged shelter, medical care, and educational support for the survivors.
As Maaro begins his sentence, his fate highlights both the severity of justice and the urgent need for preventive strategies to shield Uganda’s children from predators.