_______________

A Portuguese national who pleaded guilty to the charge of sexual exploitation of a minor (aged 16) has been sentenced to four years in jail, in addition to a fine of sh30 million.

The Nakasero-based International Crimes Division of the High Court presided over by Justice Andrew Bashaija on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, ordered Carlos Alberto De Almedia E Costa to serve four years in jail. However, the court took into consideration the four years he has already spent on remand. The court noted that he will end his jail term in June.

Costa, aged 60, came to Uganda in August 2019 and stayed in Ntinda, a suburb of the city, with a girlfriend. They had irreconcilable differences and separated and relocated to Najjera in April 2020.

In Najjera, he met the accuser and her mother, who was a food vendor and befriended them. Court heard that he rented a two-bedroom house for the family, where he also occupied one of the bedrooms.

According to the indictment that was tendered in court, on several occasions, he would have sex with the girl in his room.

The matter was reported to the police, and Costa was arrested and charged with Aggravated Trafficking in Children contrary to section (5)(a) and 3(1)(a) of the Trafficking in Persons Act, the offence elicits death upon conviction

On March 27, Costa signed a plea agreement before Justice Bashaija, in the presence of his lawyer, Daniel Angualia, in which he accepted the charge and agreed to serve four years in imprisonment.

“I hereby and voluntarily plead guilty to the charge and agreed to be sentenced to four years, and I declare that prior to entering this plea, I have had a full opportunity to discuss with my Advocate, the facts of the case and the elements of the offences and defence available to me,” Costa stated in the agreement.

Justice Bashaija accepted Costa’s plea bargain on the grounds that he did it voluntarily, without being coerced.

Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Joseph Kyomuhendo signed the plea agreement on behalf of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

Prosecution’s case

The Prosecution said that Carlos between April to May 2020 at Busibante Zone, Kira Division, Wakiso district received and harboured a minor by means of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability by giving her payments to achieve her consent for the purpose of sexual exploitation.