Couple arrested for denying son treatment

Nine-year-old Yona Wabusimba

MANAFWA.

While fetching water from Manafwa River in December 2013, nine-year-old Yona Wabusimba slid and broke his arm.

Police in Manafwa yesterday arrested his parents for denying Wabusimba treatment.

Eastern regional police spokesperson Diana Nandawula, said they were tipped off by Wabusimba’s elder brother, who said the boy’s arm was rotting away as his parents looked on. “We intervened and we have now arrested the parents for interrogation,” Nandawula said.

Ms Nandawula identified the couple as Stephen Bukuwa Katenya, a primary school teacher at Bumusamali Primary School in Bududa and Hellen Katenya a housewife.

When Daily Monitor talked to the boy, he said he is in Primary Three at Bumusamali Primary School, adding: “I am always in pain and when I complain to my father, he instead canes me, saying I should endure. I also walk a long distance to school, which is about 5km away, and he does not want to buy for me and my siblings’ books and pens.”

The boy whose bone now protrudes through the flesh and has a wound with purse oozing, was referred to Mbale hospital for treatment.