By Johnson Kanyesige
Human rights defenders and relatives of a six-year-old boy who was recently allegedly burnt by his step mother from Kibingo cell, Hoima West City Division are demanding justice for the child to ensure he gets proper treatment and regain his normal life.
In early September 2023, a woman identified as Mildred Alituha was arrested for allegedly burning his stepson Elvis Wembabazi.
Alituha a resident of Itara cell in Hoima West City Division allegedly tied little pieces of timber around the boy’s arms before he set them ablaze. He later locked the child in a garage for days before the boy was rescued by locals.
It is all alleged that Alituha who had been brought home by the father identified as Ian Byabasaija, a driver attached to Bwendero Diary Farm limited to help the stepmother with home errands, was punished for not taking good care off his stepmother’s children.
Alituha who has been on remand at Kiryateete government prison was Thursday granted a one million cash bail by the Hoima chief magistrate’s court. This did not go well with relatives of the boy who say their loved one has never recievd any medical support by the father.
Led by the Hilda Musimenta the biological mother of the child, the relatives want court to direct the father of the child Ian Byabasaija to ensure he provides proper treatment for his child who now lives with his grandparents in Buraru sub county, Hoima district.
Musiimenta says her son’s hands are now on the verge of being amputated. She wants the director of public prosecutions (DPP) to come to her rescue. She adds the first photos of the child after he had been burnt have allegedly disappeared from the case file.
Godfrey Musinguzi, the grandfather of the child says the state of the child is alarming since he is now unable to eat or bathe by himself and now requests the DPP and the Judiciary to come to the rescue of the child such that he may obtain Justice.
He accuses his son-in-law Ian Byabasaija of child neglect since he has not been supportive in the treatment of the child leaving him at the hands of the other relatives.
Robinah Tibakanya, a human rights defender wonders why the court focused on giving bail to the suspect and yet did not bother to direct on the proper treatment of the child.
Tibakanya wants the court to direct the father of the child to pay for the treatment of the child who is on the verge of losing his fingers.
