Woman remanded for torturing 11-year-old.

The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s court has remanded 23-year-old Charity Iwutung for allegedly torturing her 11-year-old niece, whom she brought to Kampala to work as a housemaid. Iwutung, a resident of Mulimira Zone in Kamwokya, appeared before chief magistrate Ronald Kayizzi on Wednesday and was charged with aggravated torture. According to the prosecution, Iwutung is accused of repeatedly subjecting the girl to severe physical abuse without any justifiable reason. On April 5, 2025, she allegedly tied the child’s hands and legs, locked her in a room, poured water on her, and beat her with a metallic object. The victim’s cries for help alerted neighbors, who intervened, rescued her, and apprehended Iwutung before handing her over to the police for further investigation. In court, when asked to respond to the charges, Iwutung admitted to disciplining the child but denied that it amounted to torture. While state attorney Ivan Kyazze initially interpreted her response as a guilty plea, magistrate Kayizzi clarified that a guilty plea must be unequivocal and free from explanations. Kayizzi then consulted Iwutung’s lawyer, Chris Ocom, who, after a brief discussion with his client, informed the court that she denied the charges. The magistrate noted that investigations were still ongoing. Iwutung, who appeared in court with her infant child, was remanded to prison along with the baby until April 23, 2025. The case came to light after Issa Kimbugwe, a 56-year-old Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) supervisor and Kamwokya resident, reported the incident to police. Incidents of torture, particularly cases involving women mistreating children under their care, have become alarmingly frequent in Uganda. One of the most shocking recent cases involved 37-year-old maid Precious Tumuhirwe, who tortured a 4-year-old girl by feeding her faecal matter. The incident occurred on December 26, 2024, in Namataba Kirinya, Bweyogerere, Kira Municipality, Wakiso District. Tumuhirwe pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 40 years in prison, with the court hoping the punishment would serve as a deterrent.