A court in Masaka City has sentenced a 34-year-old woman, Stella Namwanje, to 35 years in prison for feeding her neighbor’s 10-month-old baby with faeces and urine.
Prosecutor George Kalinaki informed the court that on November 4, Namwanje, a resident of Binyonyi A in Nyendo-Mukungwe Division, Masaka City, was caught on video feeding her friend’s infant with human waste. This video quickly went viral, prompting concerned neighbors to report the incident to the authorities, leading to Namwanje’s arrest.
According to the State, a medical examination of the child revealed a healing wound on his left eye, suggesting he had been physically abused during the ordeal. Kalinaki further noted that Namwanje tested positive for HIV.
Namwanje pleaded guilty to the charges and requested forgiveness, saying she was unsure of what drove her actions.
In his ruling, Masaka Chief Magistrate Aloysius Natwijuka condemned Namwanje’s actions, calling her behavior “grave and barbaric” and stating that she was “not fit for society.” He emphasized the need to protect young children from such harm and expressed hope that this sentence would serve as a warning to others who might consider similar actions.
While Natwijuka acknowledged that Namwanje was a first-time offender who showed remorse and did not prolong court proceedings, he concluded that a severe punishment was warranted. However, he also expressed the belief that, after serving her sentence, Namwanje might deserve a second chance.
The judge sentenced her to 35 years in prison.
