Police in Tororo District have applauded the public for their alertness and quick intervention that led to the successful recovery of a one-day-old baby boy who had been stolen from Tororo District Hospital.
The baby was stolen on Thursday morning by a woman who disguised herself to help the mother, who was still in pain.
The disappearance of the baby triggered panic among other mothers and caretakers at the maternity ward, prompting an alert from hospital administration, who later called for an intervention of police, who also swiftly mounted a search.
According to police accounts, the incident began when a female stranger approached the baby’s mother under the guise of offering help.
Out of fatigue that resulted from prolonged labour pain, Taaka Florence, the mother of the baby, handed over the baby to the stranger, who ended up disappearing with the child immediately.
The police spokesperson for the Bukedi South region, Moses Mugwe, confirmed that the baby was recovered on Friday night at 1200 hours after the alert by a concerned member of the public after getting information from the media.
He said during the recovery, the police managed to arrest two suspects, including Adongo Jane, 24, a key suspect in the case and her husband, James Okello, 28.
He said the baby has been examined and is in normal condition and has been reunited with his parents.
He added that whereas the baby has been reunited with his parents, investigations are still ongoing to establish the suspect’s motive and determine whether she was alone or may be linked to a wider network involved in child theft.
Mugwe said the community response demonstrates the importance of police-community collaboration in preventing crime.
“This response shows that when communities are alert and willing to work with police, crime can be detected and prevented,” Mugwe said.
Meanwhile, he renewed calls for vigilance among communities about child safety, particularly during social events that attract huge crowds and unfamiliar faces within.