A 16-year-old girl was arrested in Masindi, Uganda, for reportedly stealing a three-day-old newborn girl from the local hospital.
The suspect, a resident of Nyabyeya village in Masindi district’s Budongo sub-county, pretended to be a nurse at Masindi General Hospital’s maternal ward.
She then approached a new mother, Sarah Nanjinga, 25, and persuaded her to hand her her kid so she could rest.
Nanjinga, who had just given birth to her child by C-section at the hospital on April 28, 2022, handed the baby over to the stranger.
Nanjinga reported the crime to Masindi Central Police Station when the suspect vanished with the baby.
The supervisors at the ward were unaware that the suspect, who had apparently spent four days in the ward, was faking as an nurse, according to Dr. Felix Twinomugisha, the Medical Superintendent at Masindi General Hospital.
He warned women to be cautious with their newborn babies at the district’s different health institutions, noting that many people target newborn babies.
Police later busted the suspect from her hiding in Nyabyeya hamlet and detained her with the kidnapped infant, according to Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson.
“She is being kept at the police station while inquiries into how the infant was kidnapped from Masindi hospital continue,” Hakiza said.
According to Hakiza, the suspect will appear in court on allegations of infant theft after police investigations are completed.
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