The High Court in Kampala has imposed fines on an American couple found guilty of torturing their 10-year-old foster son in Uganda. The couple, Nicholas Scott Spencer and Mackenzie Leing Mathias, faced a range of charges stemming from their treatment of the young boy.
Nicholas Scott Spencer was fined Shs1,500,000 for various offenses, including child neglect, unlawful stay in Uganda, and employment without a work permit. His wife, Mackenzie Leing Mathias, received a higher fine of Shs3,360,000, with charges that included cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment, unlawful stay in Uganda, and employment without a work permit.
Failure to pay the fines could result in a three-year jail term for Mackenzie. In addition to the fines, the couple has been ordered to pay the victim Shs100 million in compensation. The compensation amount will be divided, with Shs50 million each to be deposited into the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (ODPP) Asset Recovery Management Fund account at the Bank of Uganda. This fund will be administered for the child’s benefit by a public trustee or Administrator General, who will be appointed within three months.
The charges faced by the couple were reduced as part of a plea-bargain arrangement, which led to the dropping of initial charges of aggravated trafficking in children and torture. The American couple had been residing in Uganda, and the victim, a 10-year-old boy, was a pupil at Dawn Children’s Center- Special Children’s Trust.
The fines and compensation payments are seen as measures to address the consequences of the couple’s actions and provide support to the victim. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring the welfare and protection of children in any context.