By Brian Mayanja and Adante Okanya

THE malnourished two-year-old girl, used as a cash bait by Karimojong women roaming Kampala streets, has recovered at Mulago Hospital’s Mwana Mugimu Nutrition Ward.

Nursing officer Jane Buyonjo said Martina Ongoli was slowly recovering from marasmus, kwashiorkor and chronic cough.

“Very soon, we shall discharge her,” Buyonjo said. “In the first two weeks, she could not finish a cup of milk and did not want to eat food. Since last month, she eats whatever we give her.”

Martina’s story was broken by The New Vision. Her aunt Angino Lukiyo had been arrested by Katwe Police in Kampala over child abuse on May 24. While in detention, she was slapped by Kasese Woman MP Winfred Kiiza, over Martina’s case.

The Police quoted Angino saying Martina was her niece and she was using her to solicit for cash on Kampala streets.
Martina is a daughter of Angelina Akwaro, another Karimojong beggar on the city streets. The mother said her husband used to assault her whenever she asked for money for the child’s upkeep. The man returned to Moroto, their home district.

After the Police encounter, Kiiza took the child and mother to Mulago for care.
Medical workers said it was Martina’s fourth time to be admitted to Mulago. They said the child and its mother had often been arrested by the Police who routinely raid the streets.

Buyonjo disclosed that the mother would be rehabilitated by the hospital’s social workers department to enable her take care of herself and the girl.

“Whenever the child is discharged, she goes back to the streets. This time, she will stay here and be taught how to look after her child and do domestic chores such as cooking,” Buyonjo stressed.
Dr. Elizabeth Nakiboneka, the head of Mwana Mugimu, yesterday said the rehabilitation programme takes four weeks. “Many of such mothers usually disappear before completing the programme,” she added.

The department is trying to establish whether Akwaro has a home where she can care for Martina and her other two children, otherwise she may be forced back to the streets.

John Baptist Ebert, a medical social worker, said: “We are trying to find out if she has a descent home such that when she is discharged, the child will not get malnourished again.”

Depending on the findings, Ebert said the management may find her an alternative home provided she agrees to the plan. Alternatively, the children may be handed over to a care centre.
Meanwhile, the case of assault against Kiiza has stalled at Buganda Road Court for a month. Kiiza was expected to appear in court on Tuesday, but she did not.

State attorney Stephen Asaba informed court that although the summons had been issued, the MP was yet to be served.

The court, accordingly, extended the summons to August 10. It was the fourth extension.

The Police say Kiiza and the complainant had agreed to settle the matter out of court. The Police said Angino, in a statement, on June 12, said Kizza did not slap her, but just attempted to.

Additional reporting by Tadeo Bwambale
and Angela Nalumansi