Police in Masindi has netted a 16-year-old girl for allegedly stealing a three-day old baby girl from a hospital.
The suspect (names withheld) is a resident of Nyabyeya village in Budongo sub county in Masindi district.
Police says the suspect who posed as an attendant at the maternal ward in Masindi General Hospital convinced the mother to the newly born identified as Sarah Nanjinga to aid in carrying the baby as she recovers.
Nanjinga 25, who had just delivered her baby by C-section at the hospital on April 28,2022 fell for the trick and handed over the infant to a stranger.
The suspect later disappeared with the baby prompting her to report the case to Masindi Central Police station.
Dr. Felix Twinomugisha, the Medical Superintendent at Masindi General hospital says the supervisors at the ward were not aware that the suspect who had reportedly spent four days in the ward was posing as an attendant.
He has cautioned mothers to be extra careful with their new born babies at the various health facilities in the district saying there are many people targeting new born babies.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson says police later busted the suspect from her hideout in Nyabyeya village and arrested her with the stolen baby.
He says she is currently being held at the police station where as investigations proceed into circumstances under which the baby was stolen from Masindi hospital.
Hakiza says once police investigations are through, the suspect will appear in court on charges of baby theft.
