Where Was This Video Taken?

This video circulating on WhatsApp caused public outrage. In the video, a woman is seen assaulting a toddler for over a minute. The video was also circulated on Twitter and Facebook but was pulled down on Twitter for violating Twitter’s sensitive media policy. It elicited various reactions, with many calling for her arrest.

Background

Statistics by the World Health Organisation (WHO) show that 3 in 4 children or 300 million children aged 2-4 years suffer physical punishment or psychological violence at the hands of parents or caregivers.

Child abuse is not just physical violence, it entails any form of maltreatment directed at a child by an adult that threatens the child’s wellbeing. According to the government of Netherlands there are five general types of child abuse: physical abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, physical neglect, emotional or psychological neglect and sexual abuse.

A WHO report also explains that a child who is abused is likely to abuse others as an adult. The consequences of abuse follow abused children into adulthood and the cycle of violence continues.

In 2014, a Ugandan woman, Jolly Tumuhiirwe,  was arrested and sentenced to four years in jail for assaulting an 18-month-old baby. The perpetrator was the baby’s nanny.

Verification

The woman captured assaulting the 2-year-old toddler in the video has been arrested. Identified as Dorothy Nabulime, she is the child’s mother. The Criminal Investigations Directorate-UPF, through a tweet confirmed that they had arrested the 22-year-old and will produce her in court to answer for her actions.

The @PoliceUg has today arrested Nabulime Dorothy who is seen in the viral clip circulating on social media assaulting her 2 year old daughter. She will be produced in Court on Monday to answer for her actions. pic.twitter.com/vkgNOYArkk

— Criminal Investigations Directorate-UPF (@CID1_UG) September 3, 2022

The arrest was made after it was verified that the video was captured in Busula A, Katikamu Sub-County, Luweero District, Uganda. The authorities closed in on Nabulime after the video was circulated on social media and the location confirmed. The rescued child was rushed to hospital following the assault she experienced at the hands that were supposed to nurture and protect her.