Masindi Woman Arrested over Stuffing Fire into Child’s Mouth

The police in Masindi are holding a woman who is being accused of stuffing red-hot buring charcoal in the mouth of a defenceless child after tying her hands.      

The suspect has been identified as Evelyne Akello, a resident of Tantara village in Kyakamese Parish, Pakanyi sub county. She is accused of torturing her 9-year-old child identified as Mefia Akao. She reportedly accused the child of stealing and eating groundnuts belonging to one of their neighbors. The gruesome incident happened on Monday afternoon.      
Angered by the child’s action, Akello reportedly burnt Akao on the mouth with a burning charcoal. 

Residents heard the child screaming for help and rushed only to find when the child had been burnt in the mouth.      

Juliet Birungi a neighbor says, Akello tied the child’s both hands before she burnt her in the mouth. They immediately alerted the police who rushed and arrested the suspect.        

Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson has confirmed the incident adding that a case of Aggravated Child Torture was registered, and investigations commenced.          
Hakiza says the victim received medical attention, and the suspect was arrested and detained. Witness statements have been recorded, and investigations are ongoing.          

Hakiza has appealed to members of the public to strictly prioritize children’s safety and well-being and desist from using torture as a way of disciplining children noting that parents should create a conducive and safe environment for children to live in emphasizing that violation of children’s rights is a crime.      

This is not the first-time women in Masindi are being arrested for torturing children.  In April 2025, a 62-year-old woman was arrested in Masindi was arrested for the alleged torture of a child. The suspect was then identified as Ajelinda Ongyera, 62, a resident of Chonguyoma village in Masindi.  She was accused of torturing 4-year-old Kennedy Opakrwoth, who is her grandson and a resident of the same area. She accused the grandson of stealing food that she had kept in her house.    Angered by the theft of her food by the child, she reportedly tied Opakrwoth’s hands and pushed them into the fire, severely burning and injuring him.      

In December 2024, Margret Tugume, a businesswoman in Masindi town was arrested for alleged torture of a 12-year-old boy. She was arrested for severely torturing Rahim Ahumuza. Ahumuza allegedly entered the home of Tugume which had been fenced.       

Tugume pounced on the boy, tied him, beat him severely inflicting injuries on his head, chest, neck, face and both hands.