A Ugandan court has sentenced a 20-year-old woman to five years in prison after she admitted abducting a one-month-old baby from a public health facility, in a case that alarmed communities and highlighted concerns over child security in medical institutions.
The High Court sitting in Fort Portal handed down the sentence to Moreen Natukunda after she pleaded guilty to charges related to the kidnapping and theft of the infant.
Her conviction followed a plea bargain agreement reached with prosecutors.
According to court proceedings, the incident occurred on April 25, 2025, at Rwamwanja Health Centre IV in Kamwenge District, western Uganda. Prosecutors told the court that Natukunda had been staying at the facility while caring for a relative and used the opportunity to gain access to the newborn.
The court heard that the child’s mother, who had been admitted to the health centre, was asleep when Natukunda allegedly took the infant and left the facility.
The disappearance triggered immediate concern after the mother discovered her baby was missing. Health workers were alerted and quickly notified police, prompting a search operation that led to Natukunda’s arrest. Authorities successfully recovered the infant and reunited the child with the mother unharmed.
In delivering the sentence, the court imposed five years’ imprisonment on each count.
The sentences will run concurrently, meaning Natukunda will serve a total of five years behind bars.
The case underscores the swift response by health workers and law enforcement that resulted in the safe recovery of the child, while also drawing attention to the need for heightened vigilance and security measures in healthcare facilities where vulnerable mothers and newborns receive care.
