A 36-year-old man, Faruk Malingumu, a resident of Katwe, Kampala District, has been committed to the High Court to face trial on charges of child trafficking. Malingumu is accused of exploiting his three-year-old daughter, Jamila, to solicit money from members of the public.
According to court documents, Malingumu allegedly carried his daughter on his shoulders while holding a placard requesting transport back to Soroti. This practice reportedly occurred around Kitgum House for several months, drawing the attention of police after a senior officer received a photograph of the duo on WhatsApp.
The indictment, signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lino Anguzu, states that on November 7, 2024, on Kampala Road, Malingumu “received, harboured, or transported the three-year-old girl by means of abuse of power or a position of vulnerability for purposes of financial exploitation.”
The initial report was made by SSP Carolyn Kushemererwa, who received the photograph on November 4, 2024. The image showed Malingumu carrying the child with a handwritten placard appealing for assistance.
Kushemererwa traced the source of the photo and discovered that Malingumu had been routinely begging in the area with the child.
The matter was escalated to SP Grace Nampijja and subsequently to the officer-in-charge of Kampala Road Police Post. Acting on the reports, AlP Wangwe arrested Malingumu at the traffic lights on Entebbe Road.
During the arrest, authorities recovered Shs 4,800 from Malingumu, believed to have been collected from street begging. The money has since been submitted as evidence.
Due to his speech impairment, Malingumu recorded a statement with the assistance of a sign language expert, confirming his arrest with the child. Investigators also interviewed his older daughter, Merisha, who reportedly stated that her father often left other children at home while taking the youngest to beg on the streets.
Medical examinations conducted on November 12, 2024, at CPS Kampala HCII found Malingumu mentally sound but with a speech impairment. The three-year-old girl was also examined and found to be mentally sound.
The prosecution intends to rely on several exhibits during the trial, including the placard, photographs of Malingumu with the child, medical forms, and the cash found at the time of arrest.
In addition to the indictment, the DPP’s office received a handwritten letter from Malingumu, written from Luzira Upper Prison on April 10, 2024, appealing for leniency. In the letter, Malingumu stated that his arrest with three of his children was a misunderstanding caused by his inability to communicate verbally with officers.
He further explained that he is the sole provider for two women, including one who is pregnant, and 11 biological children. He appealed to the DPP for release so he could return home to care for his family.
Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi has committed Malingumu to the High Court for trial on charges of child trafficking, with the next court date to be scheduled at the court’s convenience. If convicted, Malingumu could face the maximum penalty of death by hanging.