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Mrs. Hellen Judith Baliraine, a staff of Busoga diocese doubling as a social worker with Madhivani group remanded over child aggravated torture charges. File photo.
Judith Hellen Baliraine, a resident of Nakanyonyi Bukwale cell in Northern division of Jinja city who was in December last year accused of aggravated child torture has pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.
Appearing before the High Court Judge Winfred Nabisinde where she had applied for a bail on Friday, Baliraine denied knowledge of the charges against her.
Baliraine, a staff of Busoga diocese who ironically doubles as a social worker with Madhivani group of companies, was last year remanded to Kirinya prisons over aggravated child torture charges.
It is alleged that between September and December 2024, Baliraine relentlessly beat up her seven year old maid, Catherine Kisakye, which resulted into visible physical injuries allover her body.
Baliraine is also accused of tying up Kisakye, burning her back areas, coupled with locking her up in the store and denying her food for about a week, which made her severely malnourished.
Prosecution has since expressed bein ready with the necessary documentary evidence and witnesses to proceed with this case.
The judge has directed the prosecution to finalize the disclosure process and reappear before court hearing to commence.
The disclosure process will involve finalizing on approved witnesses and exhibits to be tabled by the prosecution in the course of this case.
Judge Nabisinde further adjourned the matter until 20th, January and directed prosecution to produce Kisakye before court on the same date.
Following her rescue from the hands of Baliraine, Kisakye was admitted at Buwenge health center IV from where she was taken up by a children's home, currently responsible for her general welfare.
Jinja city's senior probation officer, Dorothy Mirembe says that Kisakye's parents reside in the rural parts of Jinja district and they were unable to handle medical expenses, prompting them to rely on support from the children's home.
Mirembe says that the children's home provides her with daily updates about Kisakye's wellbeing and the latest information indicates that she is progressively recovering from the wounds.
Mirembe however says that Kisakye is currently grappling with psychological torment, characterized with occasional breakdowns, but the medical teams are collaborating on securing the necessary medications to ensure her complete recovery.
