As you are all aware, the Territorial Police in KMP North and Kanyanya Police Station, registered a horrible incident of Aggravated torture and Domestic Violence on the 11.03.2022, where a one Matovu Julius, a 32-year-old, business man of Kitumba Zone, Fort portal City, Kabalore district, was captured in a video which went viral, grabbing his wife and mother to his 3 children by the hair. He dragged her around, repeatedly hit her head to the wall, then stomped and kicked her severally. The victim, Nasaka Esther, aged 22, was cohabiting with the suspect for the last 6 years, and had done the right thing of leaving her husband on the 20.02.2022, due to his abusive and aggressive nature. She started staying with her mother at Kikubbamba zone, in Wakiso district. She was however, called by her husband to go and pick her clothes and other belongings at Erisa zone in Kyebando, where her husband instead attacked and seriously assaulted her. The video clearly shows a common pattern among domestic abusers especially husbands, male partners and boyfriends. It shows how some people in society, have lost their sense of humanity, care and respect for others. The suspect has been charged with Aggravated Torture and Domestic Violence. He appeared before the Chief Magistrates Court in Nabweru and was remanded.
The incident is also another stark reality that Domestic Violence exists. As the police, we are concerned that several incidents of domestic violence still go unreported, because of the much stigma and pressure, women face from family members and other members of the public, for them to maintain the family unit and reconcile with their abusers. Some of the victims might not be ready to leave an abuser, they share children with or rely on for financial support. Others fear the legal consequences of courts and are dissuaded from filing or pursuing their complaints further.
And yet the victims experience deep trauma, which takes many years for one to heal from. We want to use this opportunity to inform all victims of domestic abuse that there is life on the other side of domestic or separation. There is proof that you can heal from the abuses in domestic settings, if its beyond repair. Tell somebody, if you are experiencing domestic violence, there are people who want to help you get out of it. We want to thank UGANET for the medical and Psychosocial support they offered to the victim.
We also want to thank Sekitoleko Martin, who recorded the video depicting the horrible incident. He did not stop there, but went on to alert the police about the incident which enabled us to rescue the victim and also arrest the suspect. It is not only going to aid our investigations and prosecution of the suspect, but helps us share important safety information with the public.
We are also asking for help in locating the perpetrators of violence in the previous videos of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse.
CP Enanga Fred
Police Spokesperson
14th March 2022
