The Territorial Police in West Nile Region and Koboko CPS, are investigating the theft of a newly born female twin, from Koboko General Hospital which occurred on March 29th, 2024 at around 8 pm.
According to SCP Fred Enanga the Uganda Police spokesperson in a statement dated April 8, 2024, the matter was reported to police after 5 days and a total of eleven suspects, who form part of the Hospital staff were summoned and statements were recorded from them.
“The facts gathered indicate that on March 21, 2024, at around 9:40 am, Afekum Baifa, a 32-year-old, gave birth by caesarean to twins, a boy and a girl, and she was being helped by Chandiru Beatrice, a 47-year-old peasant of Drimu cell, Godia Ward in Koboko Municipality,” Enanga stated.
According to Enanga Afekum was asleep, when her helper was called by Drateru Jelly, a midwife, to escort her to the placenta pit to pour urine and the discarded placenta.
However, Upon her return, Enanga says she found when the female twin was missing.
“A search was conducted in the Hospital in vain and the neighbourhood, till April 3, 2024, when the father of the victim Asiku Richard, a 43-year-old, peasant of Atongoro cell, Maracha Town Council and his wife Afekum, reported the matter to police. It is against Medical Ethics and Protocols to involve patients and non-staff in nursing and midwifery roles.”
Enanga says that this act of stealing babies has become common, especially for mothers under caesarean section
“It is every mother’s nightmare, to have her newborn baby stolen, in hospitals, and from homes. It is still common in hospitals, where suspects literally, go “window shopping” in maternity wards and target new mothers especially those that are operated on by caesarean section. They befriend the new mother or their helper, offering to carry their babies or other favors. In this very respect, the helper or attendant was lured away, while the new mother, was asleep, and the baby stolen.”
He also said that the case file was submitted to the RSA-Koboko for perusal and legal guidance and that Efforts are in place to trace and recover the stolen baby.
Police further cautioned new mothers to be wary of strangers, some of whom are thieves, targeting their babies.
Enanga also reminded Hospital Managers, to strengthen measures at Maternity Wards that protect new mothers and their children.
