Africell employee in police custody for torturing stepson

A woman in Buwaate residential area in Kira Division, Wakiso District has been arrested for torturing her step son.

Ms Peninah Kukunda, who says works with Africell, a telecom firm, has been torturing the child (names withheld because he is a minor), beating and cutting him until the boy escaped and reached the police station to seek redress.

The police in Najjeera moved to arrest Kukunda after a boda boda aided the boy who he found crying for help, with cuts across the body.

The boy narrated his ordeal, of step mother Kukunda who has been beating him daily, leaving his entire body with scars, wounds and fresh cuts for some period of time.

Kukunda however told police that she was administering light punishment to the stubborn child, insisting it was not child abuse.

It is against the laws of Uganda and international law to harm children in the course of disciplining them.

Child abuse or child maltreatment can physical, sexual, and/or psychological maltreatment or neglect of a child or children, especially by a parent or a caregiver.

Police spokesman Fred Enanga said Kukunda will face the law as she crossed the line in the mistreatment of the child and causing him grievous injuries.

“I have cried until my heart ached,” said a neighbor who shares a compound with Kukunda’s family, comprising of a husband, a little baby, the step son and a maid. Kukunda’s husband Yonah Musiimenta however seems to be a busy person and only comes to this family once in a while. He however left his son under the care of the step mother, Kukunda. However, despite neighbours reporting to him the nightmare his children goes through in his absence, there was no change in the conduct of Kukunda towards her step son.

Watchdog understands that the land landlord of their premises was also informed, and engaged Yonah, and again, nothing happened. When the guard at Kukunda’s home reported child abuse case with Buwaate police, again, nothing happened according to our sources.

It is said Yona influenced police officers at the station to ignore the complaint. Kukunda however didn’t restrain herself from battering the child until her arrest on Wednesday.

On Wednesday evening, Kukunda beat up the child and the neighbor who came to the help of the boy faced her wrath. She slapped the neighbor and her four months baby, until it vomited.
A case of assault of the neighbor together with a four months old baby, was reported to Buwaate police station.