Parents burn children for stealing eggs
Mr Mulongo said the parents tied the children and beat them up before pushing them into the house where they poured paraffin and lit fire on them. PHOTOS BY YAHUDU KITUNZI
What you need to know:
- Mr Jimmy Ssegawa Ebil, the Resident District Commissioner, called for justice.
- Ms Betty Nesihwe, the Programme Coordinator for African Women Service Trust, a local NGO, condemned the act.
Butaleja. Four children are admitted to Busolwe Hospital in Butaleja District after their parents burnt them for allegedly stealing eggs.
Mr Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson, said their mother was being detained at Butaleja Central Police Station while their father was on the run.
He said the parents, residents of Jabusiba Village in Butaleja Sub–county, committed the alleged offence last week. “The children picked eggs and boiled for lunch but their parents were not happy when they found out the eggs had been cooked. They burnt them using dry banana leaves and paraffin,” Mr Enanga said.
“We have instituted charges of causing grievous bodily harm against the suspects,” he added.
The victims are Ashraf Wamange, 15, Hamidu Hamba, 11, Farooq Hamba, 15, and Aramathan Mubiru, 10.
Mr Kefa Mulongo, a neighbour, said they found the children wailing in pain and took them to hospital.
Pleas ignored
“Despite the children’s plea for forgiveness, the parents went ahead with the punishment,” he said.
Mr Mulongo said the parents tied the children and beat them up before pushing them into the house where they poured paraffin and lit fire on them. “They sustained many wounds all over their bodies due to the beating and burning,” he said.
Mr Jimmy Ssegawa Ebil, the Resident District Commissioner, called for justice.
Ms Betty Nesihwe, the Programme Coordinator for African Women Service Trust, a local NGO, condemned the act.
