A Ugandan maid pleaded guilty on Monday to torturing a toddler in a case that shocked the country after a graphic video of her abusing the girl was made public.
The 22-year-old maid, Jolly Tumuhiirwe, faces up to 15 years in prison for the assault, which the local press branded "spine-chilling".
Worried parents, who installed a hidden camera to film when they were at work, were shocked to see the footage showing the maid throwing their 18-month-old daughter to the floor.
Tumuhiirwe, who the parents told Ugandan newspapers had worked for them for only two weeks, is seen apparently trying to force feed the child, before slapping her hard.
After the girl vomits, the maid throws her facedown on to a hard floor, then hits her with a torch on the bottom.
She then kicks the child's face and stomach before putting her entire weight on the girl's back, and then drags her out of the room, apparently unconscious.
The child, named in Ugandan media as Arnella, was left bruised and shaken.
The video, shot by the parents who were worried at how their daughter was being treated while they were out at work, has been seen or shared hundreds of thousands of times on social media.
Ugandan newspapers called the footage "spine-chilling" and "very disturbing."
After her arrest, police said Tumuhiirwe would be charged with attempted murder, but in court in the Ugandan capital Kampala on Monday, she faced torture charges alone.
State prosecutor Joyce Tushabe said the maid, who had no lawyer, "was remorseful" in court.
- 'Inflicting pain without regard' -
She appeared smartly dressed in a floral shirt, coming face to face in court with the baby's father Eric Kamanzi, who reportedly broke down as she apologised for her actions.
"She said she was sorry for the act," Tushabe said.
"She asked for forgiveness from the parents of the child, the nation, and those she said were affected by her acts."
Tumuhiirwe was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on Wednesday.
UN children's agency chief in Uganda has condemned the abuse.
"The video of this baby being beaten is shocking," UNICEF head Aida Girma said. "Any such act of abuse and violence against children is completely unacceptable."
The case has gathered wide attention in Uganda, where many middle class parents hire maids to look after their children.
Maids in Uganda are often poorly paid, and regularly live in the houses where they work.
While the assault shocked the nation, some commentators said the abuse reflected wider issues of hidden violence in Ugandan society.
"Even at schools, children get beaten for very little -– not getting a question right, not having hair combed, or nails cleaned," a comment piece in the country's Observer newspaper read.
"Ugandan children grow up numbed to pain, and end up inflicting pain without regard."
The case has prompted the country's Human Rights Commission to call on the labour ministry to draw up regulations for domestic workers.
A Ugandan maid pleaded guilty on Monday to torturing a toddler in a case that shocked the country after a graphic video of her abusing the girl was made public.
The 22-year-old maid, Jolly Tumuhiirwe, faces up to 15 years in prison for the assault, which the local press branded “spine-chilling”.
Worried parents, who installed a hidden camera to film when they were at work, were shocked to see the footage showing the maid throwing their 18-month-old daughter to the floor.
Tumuhiirwe, who the parents told Ugandan newspapers had worked for them for only two weeks, is seen apparently trying to force feed the child, before slapping her hard.
After the girl vomits, the maid throws her facedown on to a hard floor, then hits her with a torch on the bottom.
She then kicks the child’s face and stomach before putting her entire weight on the girl’s back, and then drags her out of the room, apparently unconscious.
The child, named in Ugandan media as Arnella, was left bruised and shaken.
The video, shot by the parents who were worried at how their daughter was being treated while they were out at work, has been seen or shared hundreds of thousands of times on social media.
Ugandan newspapers called the footage “spine-chilling” and “very disturbing.”
After her arrest, police said Tumuhiirwe would be charged with attempted murder, but in court in the Ugandan capital Kampala on Monday, she faced torture charges alone.
State prosecutor Joyce Tushabe said the maid, who had no lawyer, “was remorseful” in court.
– ‘Inflicting pain without regard’ –
She appeared smartly dressed in a floral shirt, coming face to face in court with the baby’s father Eric Kamanzi, who reportedly broke down as she apologised for her actions.
“She said she was sorry for the act,” Tushabe said.
“She asked for forgiveness from the parents of the child, the nation, and those she said were affected by her acts.”
Tumuhiirwe was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on Wednesday.
UN children’s agency chief in Uganda has condemned the abuse.
“The video of this baby being beaten is shocking,” UNICEF head Aida Girma said. “Any such act of abuse and violence against children is completely unacceptable.”
The case has gathered wide attention in Uganda, where many middle class parents hire maids to look after their children.
Maids in Uganda are often poorly paid, and regularly live in the houses where they work.
While the assault shocked the nation, some commentators said the abuse reflected wider issues of hidden violence in Ugandan society.
“Even at schools, children get beaten for very little -– not getting a question right, not having hair combed, or nails cleaned,” a comment piece in the country’s Observer newspaper read.
“Ugandan children grow up numbed to pain, and end up inflicting pain without regard.”
The case has prompted the country’s Human Rights Commission to call on the labour ministry to draw up regulations for domestic workers.
