A 39-year-old boda boda rider in Wakiso District has been arrested after he was captured in a viral social media video allegedly defiling an 8-year-old girl.
The suspect, identified as Moses Ssebaggala, a resident of Mabombwe Village in Mabombwe Parish, Mende Sub-county, is being held in connection with aggravated defilement.
The video shows two young girls holding what appears to be the victim’s phone during an incident in which the suspect allegedly attempted to defile one of the girls.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson SP Rachael Kawala, the incident happened on April 16, 2026, in Mabombwe Village when the victim was outside with her sister.
“It is alleged that the victim was outside with her sister when the suspect approached them. He gave the children a phone to watch cartoons and placed the victim on his lap, where he was allegedly seen defiling the 8-year-old,” Kawala said.
Kawala has urged parents to supervise their children all the time condemning acts of child abuse.
“We strongly condemn all forms of child abuse. We urge parents and guardians to remain vigilant and closely supervise their children at all times,” he said.
The suspect is currently in custody and will be produced in court as investigations continue.
“We remain committed to thoroughly investigating such acts and ensuring justice for victims,” she added.
According to the 2025 police annual crime report, a total of 10,493 defilement victims were recorded in 2025, of whom 10,456 were juveniles. This included 10,328 female juveniles and 128 male juveniles, while the remaining 37 cases involved female adults.
