A 16-year-old girl is being held by Police in Masindi for allegedly stealing a three-day-old baby girl at Masindi General hospital.
Police have withheld the names of the suspect since she is a minor. However, she is a resident of Nyabyeya village in Budongo sub-county in Masindi district.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson says that the minor raided Masindi General hospital on Sunday Morning at around 11a.m and asked the child’s mother identified as Sarah Nanjinga 25to entrust her with the baby.
Nanjinga, a resident of Kabango trading centre in Kabango town council in Masindi district argues that she gave birth by C-section at Masindi General hospital on April 28,2022. However, on Sunday, the girl approached her saying she wanted to help her carry the baby.
However, she later realized that the minor had disappeared with the baby. This prompted her to report the case to Masindi central police station.
The girl has allegedly been at the health facility for the last four days pretending to be an attendant.
According to Dr Felix Twinomugisha the Medical Superintendent at Masindi General hospital, mothers must be extra careful with their newborn babies as there are many people targeting them.
Hakiza says that following the report, police immediately swung into action and started hunting for the suspect.
They managed to arrest the suspect red-handed with the stolen baby in Nyabyeya village. She was arrested and taken to Masindi central police station where she is currently being detained.
The police are still investigating the motive of the 16-year-old girl.
The suspect will appear in court on charges of baby theft.
