Woman arrested over baby theft
Nov 19, 2008
THE Poilce have arrested a woman over the theft of a one-year-old baby. Fiona Namutaaya, 18, a resident of Kawempe in Kampala, was on Tuesday arrested after she allegedly stole a baby, David Gwanga.
By Eddie Ssejjoba,
Katwe
THE Poilce have arrested a woman over the theft of a one-year-old baby. Fiona Namutaaya, 18, a resident of Kawempe in Kampala, was on Tuesday arrested after she allegedly stole a baby, David Gwanga.
The acting criminal investigations officer at Katwe Police Station, Ssalongo Ssendi, said after interrogation, Namutaaya revealed where she was keeping the baby.
The Police recovered the baby at the home of an old woman, whom Namutaaya claimed was her grand-mother.
Ssendi said they were still investigating the motive of the theft.
“We are still following up this case. It might emerge that the suspect is linked to other culprits connected to child trafficking or child sacrifice,†he said.
The baby’s mother, Fiona Bezudde, 24, of Kevina Zone in Nsambya, said Namutaaya took advantage of her absence from home to sneak away with the baby.
Bezudde had asked her mother, Margaret Kibirige, to take care of the baby as she went out to do some errands.
“I saw Namutaaya take the direction of my mother’s house where the baby was as I left the place, but I had no reason to suspect anything,†she said.
Bazudde said she was later shocked when her mother sent her a text message inquiring if she had asked Namutaaya to pick the baby.
“I dashed to my mother’s home and she confirmed to me that Namutaaya had picked the baby, claiming I was the one who instructed her,†she narrated her ordeal.
“I called her on my telephone but she refused to pick it. When I visited her home, I did not find her.â€
Sensing danger, Bezudde approached Namutaaya’s boyfriend, Israel Kalungi.
Kalungi, an artist with Ndere Troupe, called Namutaaya but she denied taking the baby.
“She returned to my house in the evening without the baby, insisting that she had not taken him,†said Bezudde. “But many people testified seeing her ride off on a bodaboda with the baby.â€
The matter was reported to the Police. On arrest, Namutaaya admitted knowing the baby’s whereabouts and helped the Police to recover him.
The Police said Namutaaya denied having a hidden motive. She, however, could not explain why she had at first denied having taken away the baby.
This comes just days after a traditional healer, Umaru Kateregga and his wife, Mariam were charged with murder by the Masaka chief magistrate’s court. They allegedly beheaded a 12-year-old boy.
Katwe
THE Poilce have arrested a woman over the theft of a one-year-old baby. Fiona Namutaaya, 18, a resident of Kawempe in Kampala, was on Tuesday arrested after she allegedly stole a baby, David Gwanga.
The acting criminal investigations officer at Katwe Police Station, Ssalongo Ssendi, said after interrogation, Namutaaya revealed where she was keeping the baby.
The Police recovered the baby at the home of an old woman, whom Namutaaya claimed was her grand-mother.
Ssendi said they were still investigating the motive of the theft.
“We are still following up this case. It might emerge that the suspect is linked to other culprits connected to child trafficking or child sacrifice,†he said.
The baby’s mother, Fiona Bezudde, 24, of Kevina Zone in Nsambya, said Namutaaya took advantage of her absence from home to sneak away with the baby.
Bezudde had asked her mother, Margaret Kibirige, to take care of the baby as she went out to do some errands.
“I saw Namutaaya take the direction of my mother’s house where the baby was as I left the place, but I had no reason to suspect anything,†she said.
Bazudde said she was later shocked when her mother sent her a text message inquiring if she had asked Namutaaya to pick the baby.
“I dashed to my mother’s home and she confirmed to me that Namutaaya had picked the baby, claiming I was the one who instructed her,†she narrated her ordeal.
“I called her on my telephone but she refused to pick it. When I visited her home, I did not find her.â€
Sensing danger, Bezudde approached Namutaaya’s boyfriend, Israel Kalungi.
Kalungi, an artist with Ndere Troupe, called Namutaaya but she denied taking the baby.
“She returned to my house in the evening without the baby, insisting that she had not taken him,†said Bezudde. “But many people testified seeing her ride off on a bodaboda with the baby.â€
The matter was reported to the Police. On arrest, Namutaaya admitted knowing the baby’s whereabouts and helped the Police to recover him.
The Police said Namutaaya denied having a hidden motive. She, however, could not explain why she had at first denied having taken away the baby.
This comes just days after a traditional healer, Umaru Kateregga and his wife, Mariam were charged with murder by the Masaka chief magistrate’s court. They allegedly beheaded a 12-year-old boy.