A Ugandan man is set for trial this August after he was accused of flogging a two year-old niece for months using extension cable for allegedly soiling herself.
Wonyola Iddierrisa is facing a charge of cruelty to a child contrary to section 18 (1) as read with section 20 of the Children's Act of 2001.
The accused, 22, is said to have assaulted the toddler on diverse dates between January and March in Mandika, Huruma in Mathare .
The victim is said to be a niece to the accused. Prior to the incident, the accused sister (victim's mother), whose whereabouts are currently unknown, requested him to accommodate her daughter for the period she would be away.
She told her brother that her house had burned down and she had secured a job elsewhere. Her daughter, she said, needed a place to stay until she settled down.
The accused agreed to take in the child. The woman did not have a phone and so she took the accused person's contacts promising to check on them.
Reportedly, the minor had not been trained to use a potty chair and so most of the time, she would wet and soil herself.
This seemed to have enraged her uncle who repeatedly caned the minor in the name of disciplining her.
The repeated flogging, using an extension power cable, left the minor with visible injuries on her back, arms and buttocks.
Due to the beatings, the minor cried frequently.
Concerned neighbours decided to check on the minor's wellbeing and the man's wife informed them that her husband had been "disciplining" the child. She said her efforts to stop him from beating the toddler had not succeeded.
Iddierrisa was later arrested.
He has since denied the charges before Senior Resident Magistrate Praxdie Atieno Aduke of Makadara Law Courts leading to his release on a Sh5,000 bail or alternatively pay a bond of Sh30,000. The case will be heard on August 20.
