Woman dumps 'her baby', turns herself in

By David Oduut

MBALE - A 22-year-old woman in Mbale turned herself in to police after reportedly dumping her newly-born baby in a bush.

This was two days after the child was found abandoned, and alive, by resident Hajjat Jamila Mutonyi who immediately reported to local police.

She said she found the baby lying helplessly in a nearby bush where her goats were grazing.

A police search for the mother of the child ensued until Jacklyn Nabukwasi of Mission Cell, northern division turned herself in at Mbale Central Police, claiming to be the mother.

But while Nabukwasi’s mental status remained under question, she said that she abandoned her child because the man responsible for the pregnancy had neglected her.

“I suffered a lot during expectancy so I did not want to continue suffering looking after the baby,” she explained amid sobs.

It was not readily clear if she was the real mother of the discovered baby.
 

true
The 22-year-old woman claimed she was the mother of the baby. (Credit: David Oduut)

The child (face hidden), was found dumped in a bush by Hajjat Jamila Mutonyi (L). (Credit: David Oduut)

Diana Nandaula, the Elgon regional police spokesperson said police is taking care of the baby as Nabukwasi needed to be taken to hospital for a mental health examination.

“We need to take the woman to the hospital to ascertain if she is the true mother of the child, besides assessing her mental status.”

Basing on the results, Nandaula added, Nabukwasi will be arraigned in court to answer charges of attempted murder and negligence.

The police spokesperson pointed out that the incident is the first to be reported in Mbale this year but warned young couples from engaging in unsafe sex which leads to irresponsible pregnancies.