Col. Edith Nakalema, the head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) has cautioned the public against filming and posting video clips of people torturing children instead of arresting or reporting them to the authorities. 

She said the social media was awash with several disheartening video clips involving mainly mothers torturing their own children, but said it was not proper that people just stop at filming and posting on social media. 

 “It is unfortunate that we have in the recent past seen so many disheartening video clips especially involving mothers torturing their children. It breaks my heart as a mother and a security officer to see women torturing children, it is indeed disturbing,” Nakalema said. 

Col. Edith Nakalema (L), the head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit with Rebecca Turihamwe and her baby, Divine Alphar Mugabe after the baby was rescued after 29 days in illegal custody

She was Monday afternoon speaking to journalists at her office following the police recovery of a one-year-old child who was kidnapped by his own father and kept in illegal custody for 29 days. 

Divine Alpha Mugabe was recovered from Bweya in Kajjansi, Wakiso district where the father, one Martin Mugabe aka Sam Mwesigye had hidden him at the home of his cousin, Grace Ampiire.

He stole the baby from the mother, Rebecca Turihamwe who works at a hardware shop in Bulenga along Mityana road. She blamed Ampiire for failure to report the matter to authorities when the father of the child disappeared for almost a month after leaving her with the baby.  

Nakalema said she was concerned that degrading and inhuman acts against children were on the rise and many members of the public were not doing much to protect these children.

Maureen Atuhaire, acting Commissioner Child and Family protection department of the Uganda police Force

She played on the screens some of the social media trending video clips, including one where a mother, one Anna Kampi Tusuubira who she said was on the run. She said Tusuubira was filmed trying to suffocate her baby and at the same time warning the person who was filming her that nobody can touch her, not even the police.

She said the matter was taken up by the police and the baby was taken to a child protection organization as the hunt for the mother continued. She also condemned and man who was fighting with his wife and instead ‘badly’ slapped his own child.  

Nakalema also condemned a video clip of a comedian who was filmed burying her own child alive and no effort was made to explain the purpose of the video. She said she had contacted the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to ensure such films are withdrawn from circular because they promote abuse of children.    

Maureen Atuhaire, Luke Owoyesigyire, Col. Edith Nakalema, the mother of the baby Rebecca Turihamwe and Jackie Nakaboke, the Wakiso divisional CID officer with baby Divine Mugabe

“I want to appeal to the public that you should not stop at just taking videos of child abuse, for someone to just get a camera or phone and records a child being battered and all you do is just sending a clip on the social media platforms, not even mentioning the location of the incident and who committed the offence, “she said, saying people should go further and either arrest or report the culprits to the local authorities. She said the government would not allow such videos to keep circulating in public.  

Maureen Atuhaire, the acting commissioner of child and family protection unit said that child abuse is a crime, and the police condemn it in its strongest term.

“Homes that are supposed to be safe havens for children have unfortunately turned out to be torture chambers and we have cases of child abuse, aggravated torture, assault, among others,” she said. 

She mentioned common cases involving couples as intimate partner violence, domestic violence, among others. She said child stealing is an offence under Penal Code Act where a child is stolen from lawful custody and taken without permission, which is supposed to be granted by the Family and Children’s court even if it is your biological child, you are supposed to seek custody from the police.

She said anyone who gets custody of a child is supposed to report the matter to the secretary for children affairs at the village council, the probation, and social welfare officer, and nearby police station or post.

“You cannot just come up from anywhere because you have money or disagreement with your partner or have power and take the child,” she said, adding that everyone is supposed to be seen promoting the rights of children.  

Turihamwe said for the days her child was missing, she was tormented and could not get the right explanation from the father as to why he was keeping the baby away from her.

She said Mugabe first told her that he went with the baby but was caught up in a curfew but in the last interaction he said he had instead taken the baby to his parents in Mbarara but refused to direct her. He later switched off his phone.

Mugabe was Monday arraigned before the Wakiso Chief Magistrate’s court for plea on charges of aggravated trafficking of persons and was remanded till November 29, 2021. 

Martin Mugabe aka Sam Mwesigye who kidnapped his own baby and lied that he had killed it for ritual sacrifice, he was charged in Wakiso court