Police recover 10-month-old stolen baby, maid arrested in Madi-Okollo district
Owoyesigyire said that police arrested the suspect, identified as Shamira Mungufeni, a 21-year-old former maid, in Madi-Okollo District with the baby.
The 10-month-old baby boy, who had allegedly been taken away by a housemaid from Konge in Makindye Division, Kampala was successfully recovered by police.(Courtesy)
_____________ The suspect police arrested was identified as Shamira Mungufeni, a 21-year-old former maid, in Madi-Okollo District.(Courtesy)
Police have successfully recovered a 10-month-old baby boy, who had allegedly been taken away by a housemaid from Konge in Makindye Division, Kampala.
Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, said on Monday (November 9) that police arrested the suspect, identified as Shamira Mungufeni, a 21-year-old former maid, in Madi-Okollo District with the baby.
He said police tracked the suspect after a case was reported at Kabalagala police station on November 4. Owoyesigyire noted that Mungufeni was found hiding with the infant at her auntie's home in Olidiova cell, Rhino Camp Town Council, Madi-Okollo District.
“The incident was reported on November 4, 2026, after the baby's mother reported that a newly recruited housemaid had disappeared with her child. Investigations established that the housemaid had reportedly worked for the family for only a few days before disappearing with the baby,” Owoyesigyire said.
He revealed that through investigative efforts, two other individuals were arrested to assist with inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance.
Owoyesigyire said the recovered child is safe, and the suspect has been arrested to assist with investigations.
“Kampala Metropolitan Police commends the officers and all those who contributed to the successful recovery of the child. We urge members of the public to remain vigilant,” he stated.
Police said the suspect is detained at Rhino Camp Police Station facing child trafficking charges, while the baby has been reunited with the parents.
The 10-month-old baby becomes the second stolen child to be recovered this month.
Police on November 3, 2026, said its territorial police in Luwero District recovered a five-year-old girl, Shabira Wassanga, a juvenile who went missing on the evening of October 28, 2026, in Mabale Village, Luwero Town Council.
“It is alleged that on October 28, 2026, the child was stolen while buying a pancake. The case was reported to Police the same day, and investigations to search for the victim commenced immediately. On October 29, 2026, the parents returned to Police with a man identified as Muhammad Ssekanjako, who claimed he had seen the victim at the home of a witchdoctor. Acting on this information, Police searched the witchdoctor’s shrine, but the child was not found,” Twiineamazima said.
He revealed that police arrested and detained the witchdoctor, a woman found at the shrine, and Ssekanjako to assist with investigations.
He said Ssekanjako was arrested after his account of how he got to know that the child was at the shrine became doubtful.
“On October 30, 2026, Police continued the search and re-interviewed Ssekanjako. He (Ssekanjako) then admitted that he was the person who stole the child. He told Police that he took the victim to Nkologe Village and handed her over to his brother, Frank Musisi. Musisi allegedly handed the child to his mother and wife. The claim that the child was at the witchdoctor’s shrine was intended to divert the investigations,” Twiineamazima noted.
Twiineamazima said police went to Nkologe Village in Nakikota Parish, Luwero Sub-county, and recovered the baby at the home of Musisi, the brother of the prime suspect. He said Musisi ran away, but Police arrested his wife, who was keeping the child, and his mother.
“The alleged motive was that the prime suspect had never produced a child and wanted to adopt the victim as his own child. The victim was examined and found to be in good health. She has been reunited with her biological parents. Three suspects are currently in Police custody,” Twiineamazima added.
In September this year, Nateete Police safely recovered a two-week-old baby stolen from a home in Lugala by the family’s newly hired maid after she vanished with the infant, baby clothes, and birth card just days after being recruited.