How twin baby was stolen from hospital few hours after delivery

Police in Koboko District, Northern Uganda, are investigating an incident where newly-born female twin was stolen from a hospital.

The territorial police in West Nile Region say that the twin was stolen from Koboko General Hospital on March 29, 2024 at around 8 pm.

Uganda Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga says that the matter was reported to police on April 3, 2024, five days after the theft of the baby.

How was twin baby stolen from hospital?

Preliminary investigations have revealed that on March 21, at around 9:40 am, one Afekum Baifa gave birth by ceaserian to twins – a boy and a girl.

The new mother was being helped by one Chandiru Beatrice, a 47-year-old peasant of Drimu cell, Godia Ward in Koboko Municipality.

“While she was asleep, her helper was called by Drateru Jelly, a midwife, to escort her to the placenta pit and pour urine and the discarded placenta. Upon her return, she found the female twin was missing,” a police report says.

A search was conducted in the hospital and in the neighbourhood but in vain.

After they lost all hope, Baifa, 32, and her husband Asiku Richard, 43, reported the matter to police.

“Some people came and demonstrated love and one of the ladies picked a baby and later said she had left her phone outside and was picking it. She went with the baby and never came back,” the mother, Baifa, says.

It is against Medical Ethics and Protocols in Uganda to involve patients and non-staff in nursing and midwifery roles.

Uganda Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga (pictured) says stealing of babies is 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 says. PHOTO | COURTESY

Police have since summoned a total of eleven suspects, who form part of the hospital staff, to record their statements on the incident.

Those summoned include; Lamiru Lois, 50, the midwife in charge of maternity, Muzaki Caroline, 28, a midwife, Ada James, 53, a security guard, Dricilu Esther, 33, deputy in-charge security, Drate Simon Adronga, 52, a medical doctor, Leila Zamzam, 30, a businesswoman, Drateru Herry, 47, a midwife, Ayoka Hamid, 44, a security guard, Abiriga Augusto Alionzi, 42, a hospital admin, Mungunira Jimmy, 47, a medical doctor and Chandiru Beatrice, a house wife and helper.

The case file was submitted to the RSA-Koboko for perusal and legal guidance.

“Efforts are in place to trace and recover the stolen baby, as we caution new mothers to be wary of strangers, some of whom are thieves, targeting their babies. We would also like to remind Hospital Managers, to strengthen measures at Maternity Wards, that protect new mothers and their children,” Enanga added.