News
Police retrieve foetus dumped in Kamwokya latrine
Owoyesigyire said Kira Road Police are investigating the incident and are treating it as a possible murder case.
Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson addressing the media at Naguru Police Headquarters on Monday, August 10. (Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)
By: John Masaba, Journalist @New Vision
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Police in Kampala have launched investigations into the circumstances under which a foetus, believed to be about seven months old, was dumped in a latrine in Kamwokya, Kampala.
The foetus was discovered in a latrine located on church premises in Kamwokya, according to Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson.
Speaking during a weekly security press briefing at the Uganda police headquarters at Naguru on Monday (August 10), Owoyesigyire said Kira Road Police are investigating the incident and are treating it as a possible murder case.
He said the foetus appeared to be about seven months old and was fully formed, making it possible to determine its sex.
“We have recovered the foetus and started investigations,” Owoyesigyire said, adding that it had been conveyed to the Mulago City Mortuary for examination.
He said the latrine is used by members of the church, as well as a nearby clinic and other members of the public, making it difficult for police to immediately establish who dumped the foetus there.
“As of now, we cannot tell the source of the foetus, but these are incidents that are really appalling,” Owoyesigyire said.
“We have recovered the foetus and started investigations,” Owoyesigyire said, adding that it had been conveyed to the Mulago City Mortuary for examination.
He said the latrine is used by members of the church, as well as a nearby clinic and other members of the public, making it difficult for police to immediately establish who dumped the foetus there.
“As of now, we cannot tell the source of the foetus, but these are incidents that are really appalling,” Owoyesigyire said.
He said police would continue with investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify the person responsible.
Owoyesigyire said further details would be provided as investigations progress.
Under Uganda’s Penal Code Act (Cap. 128), the appropriate criminal charge in a case involving the disposal of a fetus or newborn in a toilet depends on several key facts, including whether the pregnancy ended through an unlawful abortion, whether the child was born alive, and the mental state of the mother at the time.
Under the Act, concealment of birth may apply where a child dies before, during or after birth and a person secretly disposes of the body, such as by throwing it into a pit latrine, toilet or refuse heap, with the intention of concealing the fact of the birth.
The offence is a misdemeanour punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment.
Owoyesigyire said further details would be provided as investigations progress.
Under Uganda’s Penal Code Act (Cap. 128), the appropriate criminal charge in a case involving the disposal of a fetus or newborn in a toilet depends on several key facts, including whether the pregnancy ended through an unlawful abortion, whether the child was born alive, and the mental state of the mother at the time.
Under the Act, concealment of birth may apply where a child dies before, during or after birth and a person secretly disposes of the body, such as by throwing it into a pit latrine, toilet or refuse heap, with the intention of concealing the fact of the birth.
The offence is a misdemeanour punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment.