A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Masaka has convicted and sentenced Stella Namwanje to 35 years in jail for defecating on a newborn baby and feeding it her feces and urine.
Stella Namwanje, a resident of Binnyonyi A village in Nyendo Mukungwe Division, recorded a video showing herself defecating on a 10-month-old baby. The prosecution, led by George Kalinaki, told the court that on November 4, Namwanje was captured in a viral video feeding her friend’s child feces.
Mr Kalinaki stated that upon receiving the video, neighbors reported the matter to authorities, leading to the convict’s arrest.
The state further added that the child was examined and found with healing wounds around his left eye, which indicated that the convict had tortured it while feeding it her feces.
According to Mr Kalinaki, Namwanje, 34, was also examined and found to be HIV-positive, prompting authorities to put the baby on PrEP to prevent possible transmission, as her motives were unclear. Mr Kalinaki argued that due to the nature of the crime against the innocent child, Namwanje deserved life imprisonment.
“Innocent children need to be protected. The sentence given to the convict should send a message to the public that there is no room for the torture of innocent children. So, Your Worship, if not a life sentence, we request at least a minimum of 30 years,” the prosecution prayed in court.
However, the accused’s lawyer asked the Chief Magistrate to give a lenient sentence, noting that Namwanje pleaded guilty, which was her first time in court. Namwanje, convicted upon her guilty plea, asked the country for forgiveness, saying she didn’t understand what had come over her.
“Your Worship, I ask that you forgive me for my actions, and I pray that you give me a sentence that reflects what I did,” Namwanje said.
Delivering his ruling, Masaka Chief Magistrate Aloysius Natwijuka described Namwanje’s actions as unfit for society. “The convict’s actions are grave, and she does not deserve leniency,” the magistrate said.
“There is a need to protect innocent souls from people like Namwanje. Many others harm innocent children but go unpunished.”
However, Natwijuka noted that this was Namwanje’s first offense and that she had not wasted the court’s time. “I believe she deserves a second chance once she serves her sentence. Therefore, I sentence her to 35 years in prison.”
The victim’s mother, Olivious Mbabazi, who was not in court at the time of the ruling, said over the phone that she was dissatisfied with the verdict. She and her neighbors felt that the offender deserved the death penalty.
