A 35-year-old housemaid Precious Tumuhirwe has pleaded guilty to t0rturing a four-year-old girl in Kikoko Zone, Kira Municipality, Uganda.
Tumuhirwe’s brutal actions were recorded on a phone camera, vividly showing her inflicting severe physical 1njur!es on the minor through violent means, including beating, biting, and head banging.
The trial, presided over by Chief Magistrate Ms. Shallon Niwaha, revealed disturbing details of the incident that took place on December 27, 2024.
The charge sheet indicated that Tumuhirwe unlawfully inflicted injuries on the child as punishment for soiling her clothes, resulting in severe p@in and suffering.
Prosecutor Ms. Cate Basuuta urged the court for a maximum penalty, emphasizing the seriousness of the offense and its violation of international human rights laws.
“Although the convict has no prior criminal record, the gravity of her actions against an innocent child necessitates a severe sentence,” Basuuta argued.
She highlighted Tumuhirwe’s lack of remorse, pointing out that even when neighbors attempted to assist, Tumuhirwe locked the door, fleeing the scene instead of helping the child.
“A child of such a tender age was wholly defenseless against her tormentor, which magnifies the brutality of this crime,” Basuuta added.
In her defense, Ms. Hellen Namutamba appealed for leniency, citing that Tumuhirwe is a first-time offender.
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She noted her client’s guilty plea, which spared the courts from a lengthy trial, and emphasized Tumuhirwe’s role as a mother to an eight-year-old daughter. “While in police custody, she expressed remorse by apologizing to the victim’s father,” Namutamba claimed.
The court also heard that the victim had recently been discharged from the hospital but still displayed signs of trauma, including behavioral changes and fear of her surroundings.
After considering the evidence, including photographs of the victim’s injuries—wounds, bites, and bloodstains—the Chief Magistrate delivered a sentence of 40 years in prison, recognizing the long-lasting effects of torture on child victims.
“Torture reveals the darkest aspects of humanity and can haunt victims for a lifetime, impacting their emotional and physical well-being,” Ms. Niwaha stated.
Despite Tumuhirwe’s status as a first-time offender and her plea for forgiveness, the magistrate made it clear that the severity of her actions against such a vulnerable child could not be overlooked.
