Suspected child trafficker netted

By Vision reporter

Parents of the babies recovered in an operation against suspected child traffickers will be subjected to a DNA test to ascertain their biological relationship, Police has said.  

On Tuesday, the Police found three babies, aged one to three months and a three year old boy at the home of Sandra Namutebi, a resident of Yesu Amala Zone in Nansana, a Kampala suburb.  

Namutebi is being held at the Special Investigations Unit in Kireka. She is suspected to be behind a racket that has been trafficking babies in Kampala.

Also in detention are Julian Kirabo, a resident of Kazo-Bwaise and one Bbosa Ssalongo Bugele a resident of Nansana.
 
Kirabo is suspected to have been sourcing for children within her area of residence, while Bugele claimed he was a parent to one of the children.

“We are already in touch with some of the alleged parents, but we have to be completely sure through the DNA test,” said Francis Olugo, the deputy commandant at the Special Investigations Unit (SIU).

Olugo also said they were investigating Namutebi’s allegations that the parents willingly handed over to the children.  

“We are definitely wondering why a mother who is alive would give up her child of less than three months to another person to look after. That is the most delicate stage,” he stated.

Police sources also revealed that they would harmonize earlier cases of reported child disappearance. “If someone’s baby disappeared and they reported to us, we are asking them to come and see if these children are theirs,” a source disclosed.

The Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said Namutebi’s home was in the meantime sealed off as a crime scene, pending investigations.  “The babies are still at Namutebi’s home with caretakers but under our security pending investigations. Everyone in the home will be questioned,” Nabakooba said.

Meanwhile both the Police and Mulago hospital revealed that Namutebi is not a medical doctor by profession. During the operation on Tuesday, Namutebi told the Police that she was a gynecologist formerly working at the hospital before retiring three years ago.

But the hospital rubbished the claims. “Namutebi is nowhere in our records, not even as an intern, a volunteer or a nursing assistant. She is telling lies,” said Enock Kusasira the Mulago hospital spokesperson.

The police also suspect that Namutebi could be a quack doctor.

“We have discovered that she is not a doctor and she had never practiced medicine. She could be a con woman. We are still interrogating her,” said Olugo.