Court finds woman guilty for feeding step-daughter mentrual blood

KAMPALA—court in Uganda sentenced a middle-aged woman from Mukono, Central Uganda to two years in jail for feeding her step-daughter menstrual blood.

Mukono Magistrate Patience Koborunga made the ruling on Thursday, September 26, after Annet Namata pleaded guilty to the offence.

Uganda’s The Observer reports that the magistrate handed the 2-year jail term to Namata after she — in her mitigation — said she is the key provider for her three children.

The offence would have attracted a maximum sentence of 7 years, said magistrate Koborunga.

Namata admitted to committing the crime when she was arraigned on August 7, 2019.

Namata’s husband, Yunus Lungu, was disappointed by his wife’s sentencing, saying he wishes she serves a longer term in jail.

“Let her serve her term in jail, and, hopefully, she learns from her mistake,” said Lungu as quoted by The Observer.

Kitega Village women’s secretary, Susan Mayanja, echoed Lungu’s comments, saying she would be happier had Namata been given a heavier punishment.

The court was told that on June 6, 2019, Namata served her step-daughter food mixed with her [Namata’s] menstrual blood. The incident happened at the accused’s matrimonial home in Kitega Village.

The court, on Thursday, ruled that Namata had breached Section 171 of Uganda’s penal code, which states: “Any person who unlawfully or negligently does any act which is and which he or she knows or has reason to believe to be likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life commits an offence [negligent act likely to spread infection of disease], and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.”