UGANDA – After a video clip of a housemaid abusing a child went viral last week, the police has issued a statement explaining the circumstances related to the clip.
In a statement release on Saturday night, spokesman Fred Enanga says by the time the video went viral, the police had already charged the abusive woman, who has since come to be referred to as a monster maid.
She is on remand in Luzira prison until December 8. The statement says the police acted after the father of the 18-month-old victim, reported the matter to Kiwatule police post.
Heart wrending:
The video shows the maid hitting, kicking, and stomping on the baby’s spine. Many Ugandans who have watched the video say they have been traumatised. She hits the baby with a metallic object, something that has left many wondering about her state of mind.
Before she hits the baby, the monster maid is seen grabbing food from the baby and eating it. She then embarks on her orgy of violence that would even shock a most heartless creature.
As the baby is hit, she cries and cries but no one comes to its rescue.
Below is the police’s statement on the monster maid.
On the 21.11.2014, a video clip of a live-in maid physically abusing an infant went viral on social media triggering waves of calls and reaction across the globe.
The Police had charged the maid the same day with torture under Sec. 41 of the Anti-Torture Act at Nakawa Magistrates Court where she was remanded to Luzira Prison till 8.12.2014 when she will reappear before court.
The complaint was registered by Kamanzi Eric, father to the 18 month old baby girl victim on the 13.11.2014, at Kiwatule Police Post where he tendered in the video clip that showed the maid a 22 year old Tumuhirwe Jolly trashing, slapping, kicking and stepping over the baby girl.
She was immediately arrested and the case transferred to the Divisional Police Headquarters at Kira Road for better management. The baby girl was subjected to medical tests that were established to be consistent with assault and torture.
The maid admitted to partly hitting the infant with a torch, a process that was captured in the video clip. She was further subjected to medical tests and established to be a person of sound mind. The charge against her has been amended to Attempted Murder upon re-perusal by the Resident State Attorney and the pending lines of inquiry in advanced stages.
The Police express its fullest compassion to the family and utterly condemns such abuse of helpless victims. The Child and Family Protection Department will continue to promote awareness and sensitization drives on the rights of children and families to help eliminate such acts of physical abuse against children.
In extreme situations maids or helpers have suffocated babies to death, stuffed them in fridges, injected them with HIV/Aids, sexually molested infants and attempted suicide due to psychological problems and mental fits.
We would therefore, like to caution the public that such acts could be due to psychological problems suffered by maids and helpers, which calls upon the public taking great care while selecting domestic helpers.
It is extremely important that employers first evaluate their domestic needs before hiring a maid or helper. Thereafter, proceed and review them by doing a background check from friends, neighbors, local area police, local council or persons who hired them before to help establish if they faced some sort of theft or general damages.
It is also advisable that you choose the area of your home needs and before you agree on the wages, let the helper or maid visit the home and inspect the specific areas to focus on. Take time to know the family or origin of the maid should any incidents arise in the course of her work.
Then proceed and give your expectations to the maid or helper, and work with them by treating them respectfully since they are also people. They should be given space in the home and allowed to use the bathroom, dining, and their bedroom; have friends and positively bond with the family members.
It is also polite that they are paid for additional tasks beyond their normal schedules. Although hiring maids or helpers has never been a straight forward arrangement, there are success stories where maids have cared for their wages and developed very strong bonds with children; and become important family members.
However, it is on record where many maids have run away from their employers every month, because of mistreatment (verbal, physical and sexual abuse), and the failure to understand that maids or helpers have limitations and need to be watched over closely for signs of improvement.
And if it does not work out, then its better you part ways and look for someone else or explore other alternatives of older women in the neighborhood, daily nannies or day care centers. This will definitely help in getting the right person for the right job, where our children do not pay the price. The Observer (Kampala)
