Police hunt woman who posed as medic, stole three-day-old baby

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Police in the Wamala region are investigating circumstances under which an unidentified woman, disguised as a staff member of Kiganda Health Centre in Kasanda district, fled with a three-day-old baby.

Lameck Kigozi, the Wamala region police spokesperson, said a couple, Joachim Muhindo and Ruth Nalubowa of Katosi cell in Kiganda town council, Kassanda district, had taken their newborn baby girl to the health centre on March 12, 2026, after she developed complications.

“The baby was immediately taken in intensive care unit, where she responded positively and on March 14, 2026, she was transferred to postnatal ward pending discharge. On Sunday, March 15, 2026, an unidentified woman entered the ward disguised as a medical officer, she moved around the ward checking on patients and their treatment notes,” Kigozi said.

He revealed that when the suspect reached the baby’s bed, she lifted her and read the treatment notes. She then told the mother that the baby’s condition was deteriorating and that she needed medicine that had not yet been administered.

“She gave the mother sh10,000 to go out to the pharmacy and buy the drugs. When the mother went out, the suspect fled away with the baby. A report was made at Kiganda Police Station. We appeal to anyone in Kiganda town, Kassanda district and Wamala region at large who may come across a woman with a newly born baby yet she was not known to be pregnant or expecting to inform nearby police,” Kigozi stated.

Rising cases of baby theft

The theft of babies from hospitals remains a frequent and serious concern in Uganda, with several cases reported across health facilities, including the national referral hospital.

Thieves often pose as fellow patients, mothers or even hospital staff, such as nurses to gain the trust of new mothers or their attendants. They then use deception to take the baby, including offering to carry the child or luring the caregiver away under false pretences.

A common motive is to present the stolen baby to a partner after falsely claiming pregnancy. Other possible motives include human trafficking, which may involve forged adoption documents.

Previous incident in Mityana

In October 2022, territorial police in Mityana recovered a day-old baby who had been stolen from Mityana Hospital.

The baby was recovered after police received a report of the theft on October 25, 2022, at around 4:00pm and immediately launched investigations.

It was alleged that the newborn had been stolen from the mother, Aisha Namutebi, aged 20, four hours after delivery.

The suspect, identified as Prossy Nakalanzi, aged 40, was tracked down by police task teams and later arrested at the home of Costa Nanfuka in Kyengeza village, Malangala subcounty in Mityana district.

Preliminary findings indicated that the motive was to please her husband, who had been demanding that she bear him a child. Police opened charges of aggravated trafficking in children against the suspect.

Police later urged mothers not to entrust their children to strangers and, where possible, to remain with attendants during and after delivery.