Dumped baby found alive in bush in Luweero

Police have recovered a baby girl who is suspected to have been kidnapped by unknown people and later dumped in a bush along Kiwoko road in Luweero district.

The unidentified baby, believed to be about eight months old, was dumped by people travelling in a saloon car before they sped off, according to residents of Kirangira village.

In what is also suspected to be a failed case of child sacrifice, the residents believe the unknown kidnappers could have tried to kill the baby but failed and chose to dump her in the bush.

The light-skinned healthy-looking baby has pierced ears and big hair knots.

The officer in charge of Luwero police station, Rebecca Ayite, said the baby was found on Wednesday by one of the Kirangira residents identified as Harriet Nansasi, who alerted Police.

"Nansasi told us that she had heard a baby crying in the bush and we rushed there. We found the baby crawling in the bush and only dressed in a diaper. We are keeping the baby under our child and family protection unit," she narrated.

At the time the baby was picked, Ayite said she had some blood stains on parts of her body. "There was blood on her diapers, thighs and shoulder. We do not know yet where the blood came from because the baby has no wound."

Ayite could not tell whether it was the parents who had dumped the baby or someone else had stolen her from the parents and dumped her in Kirangira.

She said information from Kirangira residents indicated that there was a vehicle that reportedly stopped near the bush and they suspect the occupants dumped the baby. Unfortunately, Ayite noted, the residents did not get the vehicle's registration number plate, whish would have been an important lead in investigations.

But she said they suspect the baby could have been under the good care of her parents before she was dumped in Kirangira. She said investigations into the matter were going on to establish the truth.

Ayite also revealed that they would work with the Luwero district probation officer, Joyce Namigadde, to establish the child's real parents.

"Whoever will claim the baby will have to prove parenthood. They will have to produce a birth certificate, some pictures and also undergo blood tests before we can hand over the baby," she explained.

On her part, Namigadde urged those who could know the baby's parents to inform them so they claim their child, adding, "from experience, I suspect this child was stolen because she seems to have been well taken care of. If it is a case of abandonment by parents, such children don't usually look like she does".

She said the child would be put under temporary care and protection provided by several institutions in Luwero until the relatives or parents are found.

Namigadde said police were investigating the matter, adding that; "if the parents dumped their baby, they have a case to answer. If the baby was stolen, the perpetrators also have a case to answer."

The probation officer said even if the parents produce evidence of parenthood, they will have to visit their home and community to understand circumstances under which the child was abandoned and assess whether the information given is right.