Maid tortured, burnt over pay

By Asaph Bindiire

NTUNGAMO - “I had been dismissed from work and was told to return later for my pay. When I reached their home they held me and began beating me.

My boss’ wife called some other workers who tied my hands and beat me more. They later brought a plastic jerrycan and started burning it and dripping it all over my body.
 

After, they got paraffin and doused me with it before they set me ablaze,” Barbara Twikirize told the New Vision from her bed at Itojo Hospital in Ntungamo district.
 

The 18-year-old woman was accused of stealing household items from her former workplace, something she denies.

Twikirize, who lost both parents when she was still young, has been living with her brother known as Bob. Two of their siblings died at a tender age. So, unlike other patients, most of the time she has no one to attend to her in hospital.
 

Bob, who works at a mobile phone shop in Ntungamo town, opted to continue working in order to get some money to buy his sister’s necessities and hire a help.true

As a result, Twikirize is often alone for over three hours and her wounds continue to fester. The stench of rotting flesh hangs heavy in the room and pus oozes from parts of her body.
 

Her attendant has to bathe her daily, which is another painful experience. Her lower limbs, ooze and parts of her body are wrapped in gauze.
 

Twikirize was brought to the hospital by the Police that rescued her from her tormentors. She was dropped off at the casualty ward three weeks ago.
 

Twikirize said she had gone to pick her three-month pay amounting to sh150,000, when her former boss, Alice Kasigazi, and one Prossy Nakalanzi, beat her. She said they called in two other workers.
 

She had gone with a friend who managed to slip away and report the ordeal to the Police, who came to her aid and arrested the four.
 

Jolly Asiimwe, who helps look after Twikirize said her pain was unimaginable.
 

“She has been fighting all through, but she now began to give up. She has given up ever since she learnt that those behind her misery were released,” Asiimwe said.
 

Twikiriza’s assailants have reportedly been released on police bond and no statement from the victim has been recorded.
Ntungamo district Police commander Baker Kawonawo said the victim’s assailants had been released by court.
 

“It is the Police that rescued the victim, arrested three suspects and handled the file, took the file to court and whoever mismanaged the file must be at court level.
 

As Police, we have done our job and no one should blame us. We recorded statements of the two parties,” he said.
 

However, Twikirize’s troubles are far from over, according to Asiimwe, upon their release, one of the female tormentors came to the hospital, which made Twikirize faint.