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Ugandan maid Jolly Tumuhiirwe jailed for assaulting toddler | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A Ugandan maid has been sentenced to four years in jail for assaulting a toddler, in a case which sparked outrage across the country after a video was released. | |
Jolly Tumuhiirwe, 22, was filmed beating, kicking and stamping on the 18-month-old child. | |
On Friday, she told a court in Kampala the attack was revenge after she was beaten by the child's mother. | |
The mother denied beating her. Earlier charges of torture were dropped. | The mother denied beating her. Earlier charges of torture were dropped. |
Chief Magistrate Lillian Buchan told Tumuhiirwe she had committed an "unjustifiable and inexcusable" crime. | |
She said the sentence was appropriate in light of the "ruthlessness exhibited" on an "innocent, helpless child", reports the AFP news agency. | She said the sentence was appropriate in light of the "ruthlessness exhibited" on an "innocent, helpless child", reports the AFP news agency. |
The video footage, which prompted the case, came from a camera the child's father, Eric Kamanzi, had installed in his home after noticing his daughter was bruised and limping. | The video footage, which prompted the case, came from a camera the child's father, Eric Kamanzi, had installed in his home after noticing his daughter was bruised and limping. |
He reported the abuse to police last month and circulated the video online to family members. The footage was later shared more widely, provoking horror and upset internationally. | He reported the abuse to police last month and circulated the video online to family members. The footage was later shared more widely, provoking horror and upset internationally. |
Psychological consequences | Psychological consequences |
After the sentencing, Mr Kamanzi said: "It's not for us to decide the punishment for what she committed. | After the sentencing, Mr Kamanzi said: "It's not for us to decide the punishment for what she committed. |
"We hope this has set an example for other maids out there, that you can't just go to someone's house and torture their baby and expect to walk out," AFP reports. | "We hope this has set an example for other maids out there, that you can't just go to someone's house and torture their baby and expect to walk out," AFP reports. |
Another family member, Rose Zimulinda, said the child was physically well now but there were likely to be longer term psychological consequences. | Another family member, Rose Zimulinda, said the child was physically well now but there were likely to be longer term psychological consequences. |
In Uganda, there is no requirement for people paid to look after children to have qualifications. | In Uganda, there is no requirement for people paid to look after children to have qualifications. |
Police have recommended that parents do background checks with friends, neighbours, local police, council and previous employers before taking on nannies or maids given these responsibilities. | Police have recommended that parents do background checks with friends, neighbours, local police, council and previous employers before taking on nannies or maids given these responsibilities. |