Minister pays visit to Arnella

Youth and Child Affairs minister Ronald Kibuule (R) during his visit to the family of Eric Kamanzi and Angela Mbabazi at their home in Naalya, a city suburb, yesterday. Their baby appeared in a viral video where she was being tortured by a maid. Police say they will charge the maid, now on remand, with attempted murder. PHOTO BY Stephen Otage.

KAMPALA

Youth and Children Affairs minister Ronald Kibuule yesterday paid the family a courtesy call alongside his family that shared gifts with Arnella.

“My children watched the video and insisted on seeing your daughter. I have not slept or concentrated on work since I watched the clip on social media. I am happy God saved her,” he told the family, reaching out for the victim baby girl who protested any stranger’s warmness.

Mr Kibuule condemned the maid’s action, sending a strong message against child abuse and advising parents to exercise due diligence before employing domestic staff under whose care their children’s future is laid.

The video, he said, has opened the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development’s eyes. “We are going to design a legal and policy frame work to regulate maids and other domestic staff because they are unprofessional. We want to put in place basic professional requirements so that companies that recruit maids are registered and maids who are exploited and abused by their bosses too have protection,” he said.

A visibly happy Kibuule said, “I am happy to learn that she is in Luzira. I thought she was at large; I was going to put personal money to ensure she is apprehended so she faces the law. This is unacceptable. It is abominable. I shall keep in touch with the family and follow this to its logical conclusion.”

The youthful minister argued that the force and ruthlessness with which Arnella was beaten calls for a charge of attempted murder rather than torture, which police had earlier preferred against the maid.