Nicholas and Mackenzie Spencer: American couple in Uganda face prison for abuse of HIV+ foster son
KAMPALA, UGANDA: An American pair accused of torturing their HIV positive foster son in Uganda has been declared a flight risk. It has been said that 32-years-old Nicholas Spencer and wife, Mackenzie Leigh Mathias Spencer, allegedly abused the ten-year-old boy by forcing him to live without clothes and footwear. They also apparently kept him away from hot and healthy food.
As per reports, the two have pled not guilty to the aggravated torture charge and are currently held in Luzira Maximum Security Prison, located on the outskirts of Kampala. As reported by Al Jazeera, a police statement said, “The couple kept the victim barefoot, and naked throughout the day, would occasionally make him squat in an awkward position, with his head facing the floor and hands spread out widely, he spent his nights on a wooden platform, without a mattress or beddings and was served cold meals from the fridge.”
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“We believe the victim could have endured more severe acts of torture, away from the camera,” the statement claimed, before requesting social workers to keep proper check on children. It added, “What happened to the victim, in the last couple of years, probably could have been prevented, if they had closely monitored the well-being of the foster children.”
Cops revealed that the Spencers are foster parents to three children, including the boy they allegedly abused. Apparently, the couple mistreated the boy calling him “stubborn and hyperactive, accused him of being mentally unstable and, therefore, administered punishments and torture as a way of getting him in line,” The Monitor reported. The publication also spoke with the boy’s caregiver, who said, “I wanted to leave the job, but I knew if I left without doing something about it, the torture would continue.”
The suspects’ lawyer Leila Saaliwulide reportedly argued for bail, claiming the two need medical treatment and care because of their respective illnesses. However, prosecutor Joan Keko asserted that cure for every ailment is available in jail. Keko added, “They have no community or family ties in Uganda, and the offence with which they are charged currently is of grave nature attracting a penalty of life imprisonment, therefore their likelihood to abscond from bail is really, really high.”
Meanwhile, magistrate Sarah Tumusiime has ordered the two to remain in Luzira Prison until she announces her decision on their bail plea on December 20. Besides, the couple are also reportedly accused of staying back in Uganda even after the expiration of their work permit.
The Daily Mail reported that the Spencers came to Uganda in 2017 “to volunteer at a United States-based non-profit in the town of Jinja before moving to Naguru.” As per Nicholas’ LinkedIn page, he is currently serving MOTIV Uganda, which “creates a space where makers can refine and scale their businesses to meet the demand for local and international markets. MoTIV provides creatives with the opportunity to access factories, training, a tribe, and a marketplace where brands sell their products.”
The Uganda police have reportedly claimed that Mackenzie is also employed at MOTIV. A 2019 GoFundMe had stated that she shifted to “East Africa nearly 3 years ago with my husband, Nick, and we have been doing humanitarian work focused on women's empowerment and education. We are also foster parents to 3 incredible children.”