A 45-year-old woman has been sentenced to 49 years in prison for aggravated torture and attempted murder after forcing her nine-year-old stepson to swallow sewing needles and broken pieces of pens in Mitooma District.
Mitooma Chief Magistrate Gibson Muhangi handed the sentence to Juliet Tushabomwe on November 13, after finding her guilty of subjecting the child, identified as Samuel Akamumpa, to repeated abuse.
The court heard that Tushabomwe forced the boy to swallow 49 foreign objects, including sewing needles and broken pieces of pens, allegedly out of resentment over his continued communication with his biological mother.
According to the sentencing details, the magistrate imposed one year in prison for each of the 49 objects the child was forced to ingest.
The incident occurred in Rweibaare II Village, Kashenshero Sub-county, where the boy lived with his father and stepmother.
Prosecution, led by District State Attorney Caroline Keshuubi, presented seven witnesses, including the victim, who narrated how his stepmother wrapped sewing needles in pieces of paper before forcing him to swallow them.
The boy’s ordeal came to light in May 2026 after he developed persistent stomach pains for several weeks.
Medical examinations at Ishaka Adventist Hospital, including X-rays, reportedly revealed numerous foreign objects inside his stomach, prompting an emergency referral to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, where he underwent surgery to remove them.
During investigations, the child’s father, Twinomugisha Simon, told police that his household had been experiencing tensions over his wife’s opposition to the boy’s relationship with his biological mother.
“My wife did not want my son to speak to his mother. She would tell me to stop him or else she would chase him away,” Simon told police.
However, Tushabomwe denied the charges during the trial, claiming that she had raised the boy from the age of two after his biological mother separated from his father.
She further argued that the child could have swallowed the foreign objects while visiting neighbours, where he sometimes went to eat.
The court rejected her defence and convicted her.
Family welcomes sentence
The sentence has been welcomed by the boy’s relatives, who say the child endured prolonged mistreatment while living with his stepmother.
His aunt, Eunice Birungi, said the boy had been subjected to excessive domestic work and appealed to authorities to strengthen the protection of children living with stepparents and guardians.
“This boy did every domestic work at home, but she wanted him dead. We ask government leaders to help us hunt other women out there doing such to their stepchildren. This lady must never be allowed back into this village, even after her lifetime in prison,” Birungi said.
She also called on local leaders and government authorities to take action against people who abuse children entrusted to their care.
A neighbour, Edith Basigireki, of Kyanzire, also appealed to parents and guardians to treat all children under their care with love and protect them from abuse, regardless of whether they are biological children or stepchildren.
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The case has drawn attention to the vulnerability of children in abusive domestic environments and the need for communities to report suspected cases before they escalate.
Where to report child abuse
Members of the public can report suspected child abuse cases through the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development’s toll-free Child Helpline 116, also known as Sauti.
Reports can also be made to the nearest police station, local council leaders or probation and social welfare officers.