Stolen newborn recovered, suspect arrested

Police have recovered a newborn baby boy who was allegedly stolen from his mother at Kassanda Health Centre IV, only hours after he was born, and arrested a woman suspected of taking the child.
Annet Namulirwa, an expectant mother, arrived at Kassanda Health Centre IV at about 10pm on September 24, reportedly experiencing labour pains. She was received by health workers, assessed and admitted for treatment.
“This case raises serious questions about how a person could fake pregnancy and labour pains and be admitted without such deception being detected,” said Lameck Kigozi, the Wamala Region Police spokesperson, urging medical workers in antenatal and maternity departments to take greater care when assessing and monitoring patients.
At about 4:30am on September 25, Namulirwa delivered a healthy baby boy, bringing joy to her and her husband, Ssekanwagi Robert. The happiness, however, was short-lived.
According to police, another woman at the health centre had allegedly faked both pregnancy and labour and was closely monitoring Namulirwa and her newborn.
At about 6am, Namulirwa and her baby were transferred to the postnatal ward, where the mother later fell asleep. When her caretaker briefly left the ward, the baby was allegedly taken by an unidentified person.
The disappearance triggered panic at the health centre as staff and others searched the facility for the missing child.
A report of child stealing was made at Kassanda Police Station at about 7:30am by Justine Nakiyingi. Police visited the health centre, treated the ward as a crime scene and documented it. Witnesses were interviewed, while health-centre administrators and staff were also questioned.
Investigators were subsequently assisted by the health centre’s security guard, who reportedly told police that he had seen a woman leaving the facility carrying a baby and some luggage.
Further inquiries led police to identify the suspect as Racheal Nanyonga, a resident of Kakondwe Village in Kitumbi Sub-county, Kassanda District.
Police mounted a follow-up operation in Kakondwe Village, where Nanyonga was arrested and the missing baby recovered in good health.
Police say the suspect confessed to taking the child, allegedly explaining that she had for a long time deceived her boyfriend into believing that she was pregnant.
The suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue and her file is prepared for submission to the Resident State Attorney in Kassanda for sanctioning of a charge of child stealing.