Police arrest parents over child neglect

Sep 15, 2009

THE Police in Jinja have arrested a couple for allegedly neglecting and mistreating their 3-year-old twins. Isma Kakaire, a bodaboda cyclist and his wife Catherine Nakirya, who are residents of Mafubira village, Mafubira sub-county, were arrested on Thurs

By Charles Kakamwa

THE Police in Jinja have arrested a couple for allegedly neglecting and mistreating their 3-year-old twins. Isma Kakaire, a bodaboda cyclist and his wife Catherine Nakirya, who are residents of Mafubira village, Mafubira sub-county, were arrested on Thursday after a tip-off by concerned neighbours.

Kakaire is said to have separated with the children’s mother early this year before marrying Nakirya, whom residents accuse of mistreating the children.

Proscovia Gwokoberaku, a child rights activist, who led the Police to the area, said when they got to the suspects’ home, the children, Hussein Waiswa and Rukia Nakato, looked malnourished.

They were rushed to Nalufenya Children’s Hospital for medical care, where they are being cared for by Nakirya, who was released on Police bond.

They were weighed and found to be less the reasonable weight of children of over three years. Waiswa weighed four kilogrammes while Nakato weighed seven kilogrammes.

“Doctors said they do not have any health complications. It seems they lost weight because Nakirya was denying them food. A three-year child cannot weigh only four kilogrammes. That is the weight of a one-day old child,” Gwokoberaku said

She said when Kakaire was first approached about the condition of his children, he claimed they were suffering due to some cultural issues in his clan.

Meanwhile, the Police last week arrested Mariam Namukasa of Nkwanga zone in Buwenge town council over similar charges. Her husband Gerald Katuntu is on the run.

Speaking on Friday at Nalufenya children’s hospital, where her two-year-old daughter, Angel Namulondo, is admitted, Namukasa said the police released her on bond to nurse the child before she is charged.

She said Namulondo, who weighed five kilogrammes initailly, had improved to six.

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