A 7-year-old girl in Sembabule District has been rescued after allegedly enduring severe abuse at the hands of her grandmother and her stepbrothers.
Police have launched a manhunt for the grandmother, identified as Fatuma Nakatayirwa, together with three juveniles from the same household.
The suspects, aged 17, 12, and 9, are residents of Byafula village in Mabindo Sub-county.
The child, whose identity is being withheld for her protection, is currently receiving treatment at Kikoma Medical Clinic after being rescued by local council leaders who intervened to save her from what they described as life-threatening abuse.
At the clinic, the girl was found in visible pain, with multiple injuries across her body. Medical staff say she is undergoing treatment for serious physical trauma.
According to the child’s account, her grandmother subjected her to repeated violence, including beatings, attempted strangulation, and injuries inflicted with sharp objects.
She further alleged that she was at one point placed in a hole near a latrine and covered, in what she believed was an attempt to harm or possibly kill her.
“My grandmother cut me on the neck using a knife, then put a rope around my neck and started pulling me towards a hole near our toilet. To survive, I held the rope so that it would not hang me,” she said.
The child also reported mistreatment by her stepbrothers, allegations that authorities say are part of ongoing investigations.
“My brothers called me to bathe with them, but when I refused, they poured boiling water on my body, including my private parts. Sometimes they would pin me down and lie on me while their pants were down,” she said.
She said her mother lives in Mubende District and has not been in contact since leaving her in the care of her grandmother.
To verify her claims, reporters visited the home together with local leaders. Although no one was found at the residence, a hole near the latrine matching the child’s description was observed.
Residents confirmed long-standing concerns about the child’s treatment and condemned the actions of the grandmother. They said they had previously reported the matter to authorities, but no action had been taken.
“We kept reporting, but nothing was done. Now the child almost lost her life,” one resident said.
Local leaders also expressed frustration, noting that repeated complaints to police had not yielded results.
The child’s father, identified as Jamada Luwagga, is reportedly a soldier currently deployed in Somalia. Residents claim he had previously been informed of the situation but did not intervene.
Efforts to locate the child’s mother have so far been unsuccessful.
According to Tracy Namaganda, a nurse at Kikoma Medical Clinic, the child sustained serious injuries, including possible damage to the spinal cord due to severe beatings.
“This could have long-term effects on her health,” the nurse said.
The Masaka regional police spokesperson, Twaha Kasirye, confirmed that the suspects are on the run and that a manhunt is ongoing.
“We are searching for the suspects and call upon the public to provide any information that can lead to their arrest,” Kasirye said.
Residents have called on authorities and child protection agencies to act swiftly to ensure justice for the victim and to prevent similar cases of abuse in the community.