10-year-old Loses Toes After Torture

10-year-old Peter Kamya, a pupil at Buwuga primary school in Buikwe district is recuperating at Jinja referral hospital after undergoing surgery to remove his rotting toes that were allegedly smashed by his father. The minor was admitted at Jinja referral hospital three weeks ago after he was subjected to corporal purnishment by his father Peter Mbokoto for allegedly escaping from school early last month. It all started after the primary three pupil escaped from school together with several other children and went to attend the fairwell party for outgoing students of Malongwe Technical institute but didn’t return home. His Nalongo Naziwa searched for Kamya's where abouts for two days in vain forcing her to report the matter to the local authorities.

However, the boy showed up on the third day. Naziwa explains that she was returning from selling vegetables together with her daughter from the neighboring market when they met Kamya returning home. She says that the minor told them that he had spent the two days with his friend he only identified as Lweru. Naziwa reminisces that when they arrived home she notified Mbokoto that their son had returned. She explains that Mbokoto who was sleeping immediately jumped out of his bed, held Kamya by the hand and and led him to a mango tree where he tied him. Naziwa who is nursing in ward nine at Jinja referral hospital says that, Mbokoto started caning the boy using a huge stick despite his pleas for mercy.

He reportedly resumed the beating the next day, before he turned on Naziwa threatening to strangle her should she raise alarm. According to Naziwa, Mbokoto picked up a log and started hitting the boy’s legs and toes forcing the neighbors to intervene, but he told them off. Naziwa says that the minor’s leg swell forcing her to rush him to a nearby clinic where they were refered to Buikwe health centre on 13th November, which also refered them Jinja referral hospital. Mobokoto who had fled into hiding later surrendered to Buikwe police station. He was released on bond, but was re-arrested later and arraigned in court, which remanded him to Kirinya prison for child assault and torture. Kamya told URN at his hospital bed on Monday that it was better to keep his father away because he has been assaulting his mother.

Dr Philip Anyama, a senior surgeon at Jinja hospital says that they were forced to cut off the toes of Kamya because he suffered injuries that lead to Ischemia and gangrene. He explains that there was no other option other than cutting off the toes, because the vessels that supply blood to the toes were affected. In 1997, parliament enacted a law for promoting child rights and prevention of child torture.