A businessman has been charged with Aggravated Torture and Domestic Violence after a viral video in which he was seen dragging around his wife, repeatedly hitting her head on the wall, stomping and kicking her severally.
According to records at Kanyanya Police Station, Matovu Julius, a 32-year-old, businessman of Kitumba Zone, Fort Portal City, Kabalore district, was captured in a video that went viral, grabbing his wife and mother to his 3 children by the hair.
The victim, Nasaka Esther, aged 22, was cohabiting with the suspect for the last six years and had done the right thing of leaving her husband on February 20, 2022, due to his abusive and aggressive nature.
She started staying with her mother at Kikubbamba zone, in Wakiso district.
She was, however, called by her husband to go and pick her clothes and other belongings at Erisa zone in Kyebando, where her husband instead attacked and seriously assaulted her.
Matovu appeared before the Chief Magistrates Court in Nabweru on Monday and was remanded until March 29, 2022.
“The video clearly shows a common pattern among domestic abusers especially husbands, male partners and boyfriends,” said Police Spokesperson CP Fred Enanga.
“It shows how some people in society, have lost their sense of humanity, care and respect for others. The incident is also another stark reality that Domestic Violence exists.”
Enanga said they are concerned that several incidents of domestic violence still go unreported, because of the much stigma and pressure, women face from family members and other members of the public, for them to maintain the family unit and reconcile with their abusers.
He said some of the victims might not be ready to leave an abuser, they share children with or rely on for financial support while others fear the legal consequences of courts and are dissuaded from filing or pursuing their complaints further.
“And yet the victims experience deep trauma, which takes many years for one to heal from. We want to use this opportunity to inform all victims of domestic abuse that there is life on the other side of domestic or separation. There is proof that you can heal from the abuses in domestic settings, if its beyond repair. Tell somebody, if you are experiencing domestic violence, there are people who want to help you get out of it. We want to thank UGANET for the medical and Psychosocial support they offered to the victim.”
Enanga thanked Sekitoleko Martin, who recorded the video depicting the horrible incident.
“He did not stop there, but went on to alert the police about the incident which enabled us to rescue the victim and also arrest the suspect. It is not only going to aid our investigations and prosecution of the suspect, but helps us share important safety information with the public. We are also asking for help in locating the perpetrators of violence in the previous videos of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse.”
