Auditor general employee, wife arrested over child torture

TORTURE     CRIME     PARENTING    

KAMPALA - Kiira Division Police, in Wakiso district, has arrested a 33-years-old woman for allegedly torturing her husband's three-year old-niece identified as Anna Gabdiella.

The Kampala Metropolitan deputy Police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, said they have preferred charges of aggravated torture vide CRB 154/2020, against Fortunate Badaru.

Fortunate Badaru accused of torturing a toddler

He says, after visiting the scene, they picked the victim and subjected her for medical treatment. "Medics at Medical Plaza in Kiira-Namugongo found severe injuries on the girl's body and some old scars, which proved she had been tortured for some time," he said.

Police have also established that the victim's mother one Azaru Alesi, is one of their own, and attached to Police Field Force Unit (FFU).

"She is currently in Somalia, for a mission but her family has contacted her and she is expected back in the country," said Police.

Police add that Badaru was arrested on Thursday evening alongside her husband Denis Achidri, who works with the auditor general's office, following a tip-off from their neighbours.

DISTURBING VIDEO

33-year-old Fortunate Badaru caught on camera by concerned neighbour torturing her husband's 3-year-old niece. #VisionUpdates pic.twitter.com/Mh9CGrRXDG

— The New Vision (@newvisionwire) February 28, 2020

"We have obtained some distressing video footage as evidence, which our experts are still reviewing to use in the course of our investigations," Police added.

One of the neighbours at her balcony where she used to record the videos of torture from. (Picture by Stuart Yiga)

An eyewitness, Joan Magembe, said on realizing that they were following her, Badaru, resorted to torturing the kid from inside their rented apartment.

"Gabdiella, started losing weight under unclear circumstances and we wondered why. Her body was also full of bruises and she always appeared weak," Magembe said.

She further revealed that, on several occasion, they could hear the child crying but later on, they discovered she had been locked inside a wardrobe because she had wet her bed.

DISTURBING CONTENT

Woman caught on camera torturing her husband's 3-year-old niece.pic.twitter.com/OwB0vnxigM

— The New Vision (@newvisionwire) February 28, 2020

In 2014, Jolly Tumuhiirwe, 22, was arrested and sent to Luzira Prison after video footage went viral, showing her torturing a toddler who was one and half years old.

She was sentenced to four years in jail but after serving two years and eight months, she was released.