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UGANDA: Police in Masindi has arrested and detained a 16-year-old girl for allegedly stealing a three-day-old baby girl from the district hospital.
The suspect (whose names have been withheld as she is a minor) is a resident of Nyabyeya village in Budongo sub-county in Masindi district.
According to police, the suspect initially posed as an attendant at the maternal ward in Masindi General Hospital before convincing the mother of the baby identified as Sarah Nanjinga (25) to aid in carrying the baby as she recovers.
Nanjinga who had just delivered her baby by C-section at the hospital on April 28, 2022, fell for the trick and handed over the infant to a stranger.
The suspect later disappeared with the baby prompting Nanjinga to report the case to Masindi Central Police station.
Dr. Felix Twinomugisha, the Medical Superintendent at Masindi General hospital says the supervisors at the ward were not aware that the suspect who had reportedly spent four days in the ward was posing as an attendant.
He cautioned mothers to be extra careful with their newborn babies at the various health facilities in the district saying there are many people targeting newborn babies.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson says police later busted the suspect from her hideout in Nyabyeya village and arrested her with the stolen baby.
“She is currently being held at the police station whereas investigations proceed to find out how the baby was stolen from Masindi hospital,” Hakiza noted.
Hakiza says once police investigations are through, the suspect will appear in court on charges of baby theft.
