Couple Committs An International Crime
Mr. Nicholas Spencer and Mackenzie Leing Mathias Spencer,32, in court
Buganda Road Magistrate Court led by Magistrate Sarah Bashaija Tumusiime has sent American couple Mr. Nicholas Spencer and Mackenzie Leing Mathias Spencer to the international court that handles cases dealing with serious international crimes, International Crimes Division (ICD) in Kololo to face charges slapped against them.
The American couple is now facing five charges including aggravated trafficking and torture of a 10 year old John Kayima, working in Uganda without a permit, unlawful stay in the country among others.
The prosecution led by Joan Keko presented committal papers stating that between 21st September and December 2022 plus 30th November and December 2022, Mackenzie and Spencer respectively stayed in Uganda unlawfully. At around the same time, they worked in the country without a work permit contrary to Section 59(2) (a) of the Uganda Citizenship and immigration Control Act CAP 66.
The couple has been in custody since December 9th, 2022 after their neighbors in Kampala reported their alleged torture to police.
The couple moved to Uganda in 2017 and fostered three children from Welcome Ministry in Jinja. Among the three children was John Kayima who is said to be a special needs child and attended Dawn Children’s Centre –Special Children Trust.
According to police, the couple constantly tortured the toddler, keeping him bare footed and naked throughout the day. It is also reported that they made him squat in an awkward position with his head facing the floor and hands spread out.
The couple is also accused of forcing the child to sleep on a bare wooden platform with no mattress or any form of beddings. They served him cold food from the fridge. Some of these acts of torture were captured on camera which was used to keep the toddler under 24/7 surveillance.
The prosecution tends to rely on a police statement recorded by Arinaitwe Pamela, the couple’s house help who had been employed at their home in Naguru Hill for two years. In her statement, she indicated that having observed a repeated pattern of inhumane treatment of the child by the couple, she filed a case of torture Kira Road Police on 7th December 2022
The couple is remanded until they will be summoned by the High court on 21st March for their bail hearing.
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