A chief magistrate’s court in Masaka City, central Uganda, has convicted and sentenced a 34-year-old woman for feeding her neighbor’s 10-month-old baby with feces and urine.
The prosecution, led by George Kalinaki, presented evidence that on November 4, Stella Namwanje, a resident of Binyonyi A in Nyendo-Mukungwe Division, was recorded in a viral video feeding her friend’s child with fecal matter. After receiving the video, neighbors reported the incident to authorities, leading to Namwanje’s arrest.
An examination of the child revealed a healing wound on his left eye, suggesting that he had been injured during the act. Additionally, a medical examination of Namwanje confirmed that she was HIV positive.
Namwanje, who pleaded guilty, expressed remorse and asked the court for forgiveness, saying she did not understand her own actions. However, Chief Magistrate Aloysius Natwijuka described her behavior as unfit for society, stating that her actions were severe and warranted a strong sentence to protect young children from similar harm. Natwijuka emphasized that the jail term should serve as a deterrent.
Noting that Namwanje was a first-time offender who showed remorse, Natwijuka sentenced her to 35 years in prison, allowing for a second chance after serving her term. The child’s mother, Olivia Mbabazi, who was not in court, expressed dissatisfaction with the sentence, stating that she believed the offense warranted a harsher punishment.