Police in Koboko District, located in Northern Uganda, are currently investigating a distressing incident involving the abduction of a newborn female twin from a local hospital.
According to authorities from the territorial police in the West Nile Region, the theft occurred at Koboko General Hospital on the evening of March 29, 2024, at approximately 8:00 pm.
Fred Enanga, the spokesperson for the Uganda Police, revealed that the incident was officially reported to the authorities on April 3, 2024, five days after the infant was taken.
HOW WAS THE BABY ABDUCTED FROM THE HOSPITAL?
Preliminary investigations indicate that on March 21, at around 9:40 am, Afekum Baifa gave birth to twins via cesarean section—a boy and a girl.
During this time, Chandiru Beatrice, a 47-year-old resident of Drimu Cell, Godia Ward in Koboko Municipality, was assisting the new mother.
“As Baifa rested, Chandiru Beatrice, her attendant, was summoned by Drateru Jelly, a midwife, to assist in disposing of medical waste. Upon her return, the female twin was discovered missing,” according to a police report.
Despite thorough searches conducted both within the hospital premises and in the vicinity, the baby could not be found.
Baifa, aged 32, and her husband Asiku Richard, aged 43, eventually reported the incident to the police after exhausting all avenues.
“Some individuals approached us, showing kindness, and one of the women took the baby under the pretense of retrieving her forgotten phone from outside. However, she never returned,” recounted the distressed mother, Baifa.
It’s important to note that involving non-medical personnel in nursing or midwifery duties goes against established medical ethics and protocols in Uganda.
Fred Enanga emphasized that the abduction of infants is unfortunately not uncommon in hospitals. Perpetrators often exploit vulnerabilities, such as befriending new mothers or their aides, particularly those who have undergone cesarean sections.
The police have summoned eleven suspects, including hospital staff, for questioning regarding the incident.
These individuals include midwives, security personnel, a medical doctor, a businesswoman, and other hospital staff members.
The case file has been forwarded to the RSA-Koboko for further review and legal guidance.
Enanga urged caution among new mothers, advising them to be vigilant against strangers, some of whom may have malicious intentions toward their infants. Additionally, he called upon hospital management to bolster security measures within maternity wards to safeguard both mothers and their newborns.
