Justice for Three Young Boys in Uganda
Summary:
January 2026
Three boys who were sexually assaulted by a self‑proclaimed pastor in their community have now received justice – with the perpetrator sentenced to a total of 55 years in prison.
When the locally known man offered to help guide the spiritual growth of three young boys, Alpha*, Bernard*, and Alex*, their families welcomed the idea. But what began as an act of trust turned into betrayal, as he repeatedly sexually assaulted the boys in his care and threatened to kill them if they ever told anyone.
Bernard was the first to speak up. He bravely shared the truth with his grandmother, describing what he, Alex, and Alpha had been forced to endure.
“He told me that sometimes, [the man] would take them when Alpha’s mum is away, and he takes them to her house, where he would then abuse them," she explained.
Bernard’s grandmother immediately informed Alex’s grandmother. Meanwhile, Alpha also told his mother what had happened. The perpetrator had been staying in their home for two years, and as soon as Alpha’s mother learned the truth, she reported the crime to the police.
In July 2024, with support from IJM lawyers and social workers, Alpha saw the perpetrator sentenced to 45 years in prison.
His mother’s courage was inspiring to the other families, who had been too afraid to come forward. Like many families, they feared stigma, the challenges of navigating court, and the fact that they had never seen a case of sexual violence lead to a conviction before.
But witnessing Alpha’s successful case gave them hope, and both the other families decided to pursue justice.
Thanks to their courage, the man was recently convicted and sentenced to 18 years in Bernard’s case, to be served concurrently with the previous sentence, and 10 years in Alex’s case, to be served separately.
When asked whether she ever believed justice was possible in her community, Alex’s grandmother said:
“Alpha’s was the first case that I heard and saw with my own eyes [to be tried successfully]. And that gave me courage."
IJM is now supporting all three boys with therapy and medical care as they begin their healing journeys.
This is at the heart of IJM’s approach: when justice is upheld, others are empowered to speak up – and entire communities become safer.
Learn more about our work to combat violence against women and children.
*Pseudonyms