Tororo midwives remanded over expectant mum's death

Three midwives of Tororo General Hospital have been remanded in Morukatipe prison for allegedly causing the death of an expectant mother.

An ambulance driver, 38-year-old Hussein Ochwo, was remanded.

The three midwives are: Janet Adikinyi, 42, Anna Akello, 44 and Monica Babyerebira, 59.

They were sent to jail by Tororo Court trial chief magistrate Esther Nakadama Mubiru when they appeared for plea.

They were charged with two counts of neglect of duty and causing death through neglect act.

The deceased woman is Suzan Awino, 41. Court heard that on March 27 last year, she was referred to Tororo Hospital in labor and was received by the three midwives who were on duty.

Later that night, Awino's condition worsened, and Akello, who was in charge, was expected to call Dr. Perez Wasswa, who was on call at the medical quarters some 100 meters away, to review the expectant mother. She did not.

And when they contacted Ochwo, the driver, to pick Dr. Wasswa, he reportedly claimed that the ambulance did not have fuel.

Court heard that the midwives then abandoned Awino and made a referral note to St. Anthony Hospital.

Strangely, Ochwo, who had claimed the ambulance had no fuel, drove the vehicle for refueling at a filling station two kilometers away.

It is around that time that Awino breathed her last and was found lying dead on the floor.

The case proceedings were delayed after the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) called for the file following a petition by the complainant, Vincent Ogola, before the DPP returned the file and advised that the case should proceed.

Appearing in court on Friday, the midwives who were in company of the complainant, appeared confident of being set free after reportedly entering into reconciliation.

In fact, the complainant asked court to acquit the suspects since they had reconciled.

However the prosecution team led by James Khaukha objected to the demand, saying it was not mandatory that the state was going to free them since the case was not minor in nature.

The lead prosecutor added that the suspects had not applied for bail application nor did they have sureties.

Later, Nakadama remanded the suspects until April 8 when for reappearance in court.