Mother of two held over child torture

By Faustine Odeke

POLICE in Tororo have arrested a housewife for allegedly torturing her 4-year-old step granddaughter. 

The girl belongs to the son of her husband who is a driver at World Food Program Tororo depot.

Fazira Nake, 28, a resident of Water village in Tororo municipality was on Tuesday morning arrested after a video leaked on social media of her torturing the helpless child.

The officer in charge of child and family protection unit at Tororo police station Jane Nakiza said she acted after a tip off from some of the concerned neighbors.

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Screen grabs from the video which showed Nake manhandling the girl.

“I received a call at midnight on Monday from the person who had identified this woman after watching the video. 

Before I could leave the house I received another call from another person at 6.00am directing me where I could find this woman and so I acted fast before she could escape” Nakiza told journalists at her office.

She said they immediately rounded up Nake, a charcoal seller, before she could leave for work and took her to Tororo central police station where she is still being held. She said police is currently looking after the child.

Nake confessed to the crime saying she did it in March when the girl swallowed a one hundred shilling coin. She said she did it so that the girl could vomit the coin.

Nake being led away by a police officer after she was charged with torture. Photo by Faustin Odeke

Nake a mother of two children aged 5 and 11, said the she was also angered because the girl continued soiling of her beddings.

“I ask for forgiveness from all those that I have wronged because the action was not intentional. Please just spare me as I will never do it again” a sobbing Nake told journalists at police.

However a neighbor who took the video on his phone but preferred anonymity said he was angered by the woman’s continued torture of the girl whenever the husband is away on duty.

Nakiza said the file will be forwarded to the resident state attorney for advice once investigations are complete adding that the suspect has been charged with child abuse.

She said cases of that nature are very rare in the district.