Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Uganda Monitor
Published on 2024-03-04 12:58:08
A disturbing incident of child abuse has been reported in Tabong Village, Tiira Town Council, Busia District, where a six-year-old boy has allegedly suffered physical abuse at the hands of his father, resulting in the loss of all his incisors in his lower jaw. The boy, identified as Mukisa, also bears torture marks and abrasions on his body, reportedly inflicted by his father, Ochugo Apetai.
According to reports, Apetai, who is a businessman and commercial farmer, took Mukisa from his maternal grandfather under the pretense of enrolling him in school. Instead, the boy was subjected to repeated torture over a three-week period, using blunt objects such as hoe handles and beer empties. This cruel treatment left Mukisa bleeding and with severe head injuries.
In a harrowing account, Mukisa revealed that his father had been physically abusing him on a daily basis since taking him from his grandfather’s home. The child, who appears malnourished, also accused his father and stepmother of denying him food, forcing him to wait for leftovers while they ate with his stepbrothers and sisters.
The most traumatic incident occurred when Mukisa asked his father for food, and in response, Apetai became enraged and used a beer bottle to extract all the boy’s lower jaw front teeth. Apart from the physical abuse, the child has been emotionally and nutritionally neglected by his father and stepmother.
Mukisa had been living with his maternal grandfather, Godfrey Mayende, since his parents separated when he was just a year old. Mayende was shocked when Apetai brought the boy back to him, dumped him near his home, and fled, believing that the child was dead. Mayende noted that Mukisa appeared malnourished and bore signs of both recent and old torture marks across his body, including missing lower incisors.
The severity of the injuries prompted a lawyer named Victor Odwori to assert that they are indicative of grave child abuse, in violation of the Children’s Act and laws against torture. The case has been documented as a matter of child torture and neglect, with police spokesperson Moses Mugwe confirming that investigations are underway. Apetai is currently a fugitive but will be arrested and brought to court to face charges related to the abuse once apprehended.
This shocking case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting vulnerable children from abuse and neglect. It highlights the need for swift and decisive action to ensure the safety and well-being of all children, who are entitled to a life free from violence and harm. The community and authorities must work together to hold perpetrators of child abuse accountable and provide support to victims to help them recover from such traumatic experiences.
Read the original article on Uganda Monitor
