Ugandan maid pleads guilty to baby torture

KAMPALA–A Ugandan maid pleaded guilty Monday to torture of a baby, a case that has shocked the country after a video of her abusing the child was made public.

The 22-year old maid, Jolly Tumuhiirwe, faces up to 15 years in prison for the crime.

Worried parents, who installed a CCTV camera when they were at work, were shocked to see they had filmed the maid pushing the 18-month-old baby girl to the floor.

She then kicked the child’s face and stomach before putting her entire weight on the girl’s back, and then dragged her out the room apparently unconscious. The baby was left bruised and shaken by the abuse.

The disturbing video has been seen or shared hundreds of thousands of times on social media.

After her arrest, police said she would be charged for attempted murder, but in court Monday faced torture charges alone.

State prosecutor Joyce Tushabe said the maid, who had no lawyer, “was remorseful” in court.

“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.