In a distressing turn of events on Tuesday, December 26, police in Busega find themselves grappling with a challenging situation as they care for a toddler abandoned by its mother due to financial stress.
Brenda Atuhaire, the woman behind this desperate act, left her two-year-old child in a trench, citing the child’s father’s abandonment and lack of financial support as the reasons.
In a note accompanying the abandoned toddler, Atuhaire expressed her struggles in seeking assistance from the police, stating, “I tried to get the police involved but got no help.
Now my baby is sick; I don’t have money, and no one can help.” Despite the heartbreaking circumstances, Atuhaire emphasized her love for the child and explained that desperation led her to make this heart-wrenching decision.
She added, “When she is older, she can always look for me.” Unfortunately, when the police discovered the child, it was in a sickly and malnourished state.
This incident sheds light on the pervasive issue of child neglect in Uganda, a problem that has affected millions of children according to various studies.
Child neglect encompasses the failure to provide adequate supervision, healthcare, clothing, and housing, as well as other essential aspects of a child’s well-being, including physical, emotional, social, educational, and safety needs.
A recent study by ANPPCAN Uganda Chapter ranked child neglect as the most prevalent violation of children’s rights in the country.
This heart-wrenching incident in Busega underscores the urgent need for collective efforts to address the root causes of child neglect and provide support systems for struggling families.
The police now face the challenging task of ensuring the well-being of the abandoned toddler while investigating the circumstances that led to this unfortunate event.
