Quack doctor treats P2 child with animal medicine

By Geoffrey Namukoye

The Police in Kamuli are hunting for a quack doctor who allegedly administered veterinary medicine on an eleven-year-old P2 pupil of Naminage Muslim Primary School in Kamuli district.

Kamadhi Muhamad from Namaganda village in Kitayunjwa sub-county, Kamuli was reportedly taken to the ‘doctor’, only identified as Butanakya, for treatment of wounds sustained after his mother tortured him for allegedly stealing sh2,000.

Butanakya, who is said to operate in Kitayunjwa sub-county as a veterinary doctor, allegedly treated Kamadhi with Penstrep, commonly used for treating livestock and pets against bacterial infections.

However, the treatment reportedly worsened the wounds, attracting the concern of community members who dragged the boy’s mother Ashanti Naigaga to the Police in Naminage village.

Kamadhi is now undergoing intensive treatment at Kamuli Hospital. He has been out of school for the whole of third term as a result of the deep wounds which cannot allow him to stand or walk.

“After my mother realised that I had stolen money, she tied my hands and legs with rubber strings and locked me in the house for the whole day. I sustained wounds which became septic with time,” a visibly traumatised Muhamad says.

Naigaga, who is in police custody awaiting charges of child abuse, accused her son of being a habitual thief. When asked why she subjected her child to such gruesome punishment, Naigaga attributed it to disciplinary action gone wrong. “I just wanted to instill good behaviour in my child. I did not intend to inflict injury on him,” she said.

The Kamuli district police commander, Abraham Betongyeza, condemned violence against children. He also called upon the community to be vigilant about what happens in their neighbourhoods.

“Everywhere, communities should police themselves by enforcing the neighbourhood-watch strategy. This will avert crime against children,” he said.