A father in Mbarara City has appealed for urgent assistance for his 17-year-old daughter, who is reportedly tied to a tree for long periods each day due to challenges associated with her mental condition and a lack of family support.
Siraj Kayemba, popularly known as Ssekito, a resident of Nkokonjeru Cell, Ruharo Ward, says he has been left overwhelmed by the responsibility of caring for his daughter amid growing tensions within his household.
According to Kayemba, the teenage girl came to live with him in early 2025 after her biological mother fell ill and was unable to continue caring for her. He said the situation worsened after the child moved into his current home.
“I received my daughter in 2025 when her mother was admitted to hospital and they were evicted from the house where they were staying. No one would care for my child,” Kayemba said.
He claims that since the child arrived, his wife has become increasingly unwilling to assist in caring for the teenager.
“Since the day she got here, her stepmother changed. In fact, she moved from our bedroom to a separate room with her children and left me in our room with my daughter,” he said.
The father explained that the girl is tied because she frequently wanders away from home and becomes lost when left unattended.
“Initially, we used to tie her with a shorter rope, but it is now longer. We tie her because when we don’t, she leaves home and gets lost. We end up receiving calls asking us to come and pick her,” Kayemba said.
Despite the explanation, the teenager appeared visibly malnourished during a visit to the home, raising concerns about her welfare and access to proper care.
Kayemba said he is solely responsible for feeding, cleaning and looking after the girl, adding that she often goes without meals whenever he is away from home.
“The stepmother cannot do anything for this child. I do everything, from cleaning her to feeding her. If I am not around, she painfully skips meals, but before I leave, I ensure she has eaten,” he said.
Kayemba, a former professional driver who says he now suffers from eyesight complications that limit his ability to work, explained that medical assessments indicated that the girl has a mental condition affecting her cognitive development.
“We took her to hospital and were told she has a mental illness where her brain is not developing normally,” he said.
He added that attempts to seek placement in specialised care facilities were unsuccessful due to financial constraints.
“I once went to a home for children with disabilities and was asked to pay between Shs600,000 and Shs800,000, which I could not afford,” he said.
Hadijah Kakande, a local leader in Nkokonjeru Cell, said community leaders have attempted to engage the stepmother but have seen little change.
“We have tried talking to her, but she is very rigid and does not want to know. The child needs to be taken away from the home for better care because the father cannot afford to provide everything she needs,” Kakande said.
The Officer in Charge of Nkokonjeru Police Station acknowledged awareness of the situation and advised the father to formally report the matter to the Family and Child Protection Unit for intervention.
According to residents, the teenage girl is often left alone at home while tied to a tree, with the house locked. They say she remains exposed to harsh weather conditions, whether rain or sunshine, until her father returns to untie her.
The case has sparked concern among local leaders and residents, who are calling for urgent intervention from social welfare authorities, disability support organisations and child protection agencies to ensure the teenager receives proper care and protection.
