Arua inmate allegedly suffocates two weeks old baby
Jul 15, 2019
The inmate, Charity Akutu hailing from Zeu subcounty, Zombo district who is convicted on two counts of theft is suspected to have suffocated the two weeks old baby girl
ZOMBO-A 22-year-old inmate of Arua government women's prison allegedly suffocated her baby.
The inmate, Charity Akutu hailing from Zeu subcounty, Zombo district who is convicted on two counts of theft is suspected to have suffocated the two weeks old baby girl recently.
The OC Arua government women's prisons, Patience Namara, said the convict was transferred from Paidha prisons to access better maternity services.
According to the officer in charge, the baby was born premature and had flu and cough.
The inmate was convicted on December last year and is supposed to have finished her sentence this November.
She added that Akutu who is serving 16months imprisonment had attempted abortion while at Paidha prisons because the father of the baby had denied responsibility.
"We are not sure whether the inmate suffocated the baby intentionally or not but Police will give us proper investigations", she said.
However, Namara said the inmate was in a sombre mood after the incident happened.
Even up to now when you bring up the matter of her child's death, you see her crying which means she is mourning and regrets the incident", She said.
Asked about the treatment of female prisoners and their babies, that could have contributed to the incident Namara said the babies are taken care of very well.
"The prisons have cattle that provide milk for the babies and soya porridge for breast milking and weaned babies", she said.
The post-mortem report revealed that the baby was pressured.
The Westnile regional prisons commander, George Lenga confirmed the incident saying the incident was either by accident or negligence.
"We wonder how this happened, either she suffocated the baby intentionally or not and killed the baby, such an unfortunate incident", he said.
Police preferred the charges of rush and negligence causing death and infanticide on the inmate.
The regional criminal investigations department officer, Westnile Herbert Wanyoto said investigations are in the final stages.
He said the element of her intentions to abort while in custody in Paidha and Kochi prisons, Nebbi will also be considered during the investigations.
"She may have done it by accident or intentionally but we follow the law therefore when we finish investigations we will forward the matter to the directorate public prosecutions so that the formal judicial processes can take due course," he said.
Wanyoto cautioned young girls from engaging in unmeaningful relationships that result to unwanted babies.
He also warned young women that leave their children unattended to go to night clubs saying such acts are punishable by the law