Sulait Ntulagye is fighting to regain his health at Ntara Health Center IV in Kamwenge district after being subjected to deliberate starvation by his aunt for nearly 6 years. Although he is 12 years old, the chronically malnourished child looks much younger. The emaciated boy was rescued by Police who found him tied to a banana tree a few meters away from the aunt’s home in Kinyegala village Kikyonkyo Sub County in Kamwenge district.
Neighbors said Sulait’s aunt Joseline Nabukeera had been abusing and starving the boy for many years. They described Nabukeera as unpleasant and a feared person with whom they had raised the child’s mistreatment many times before but to no avail. “Most people here do not associate with Nabukeera because of she is abusive and has bed behaviors.” “One day she told me she tied the child claiming he escapes. But I am surprised to hear that it has been a habit for a long time.” However, Nabukeera denied starving the child although she admitted that she occasionally left him tied to a banana tree. “The reason I tied the child with a rope is that he could easily get lost in the bush since he cannot speak. It’s until I came back from the well that I untied him. I have never denied him food.”
Abbas Agaba the Kitagwenda County Member of Parliament said that it was unfortunate that people in the community knew what was going on but decided to keep silent. “They feared that this woman is a witch that she practices witchcraft and that she had bewitched this boy Sulait who is crippled now. That if anybody talked about her they would also be bewitched and they die. That’s how the situation has been and the child has been left almost to near death.” Said, Abbas Agaba Kitagwenda County MP. In the meantime, Sarah Twizere the Enrolment Nurse at Ntara Health Center IV said that although the child had some infections he was steadily improving. “Now the child is improving because he came when he was not standing, he could not sit, he could not laugh and he was very sick. But today, he can now stand, he can walk and he can laugh.” Said, Sarah Twizere – Nurse, Ntara Health Center IV.
Doreen Apio the Officer In charge of a Child Family Protection Unit at Kamwenge Police Station said that Nabukeera was charged with Child Abuse, Torture, and Child Neglect. “We have charged her cases of child abuse, child neglect because it is also child torture. Because if you are to see how a child is tied to a banana plant, it was unfair for her to do that.” Said, Doreen Apio – Officer in Charge of Child and Family Protection Unit. However, Lucky Twinomugisha a Social Worker in the area said the Police acted too late. “When they are taken as suspects, they are leased and others immediately do the same because they know that there will also be released but at least if there is that punishment that they are given and they are not released they serve their sentence at least their fellows can see and be exemplary and child abuse stops.” Said, Lucky Twinomugisha – Social Worker.
“A when a complainant has reported, instead of going to present witnesses in Court, you find that these people end up failing to give witnesses in Court, you find other cases are being put away because people are not following the case.” For now, Sulait is fortunate to have been saved and hopefully will recover fully and go on to lead a productive life.
