KASSANDA DISTRICT, 26 September 2026— A harrowing ordeal at Kassanda Health Center IV ended in relief after police successfully recovered a stolen newborn boy and arrested the suspect following a swift, multi-agency investigation.
The incident began on the evening of September 24, when Annet Namulirwa arrived at Kassanda Health Center IV in labor. Early the following morning, at approximately 4:30 AM, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy—a moment of joy shared with her husband, Robert Ssekanwagi.
That relief was abruptly shattered. According to law enforcement, a woman who had faked both a pregnancy and labor pains had gained admission to the facility, using her access to monitor the newborn. At around 6:00 AM, after Namulirwa and her baby were moved to the postnatal ward, the mother fell asleep. When her caretaker briefly stepped away, the suspect snatched the newborn and fled.
The sudden disappearance triggered panic across the facility as staff and family searched the premises. Justine Nakiyingi formally reported the abduction to the Kassanda Police Station at 7:30 AM.
Detectives immediately secured and documented the ward as a crime scene, taking statements from witnesses, administrative personnel, and facility staff. A crucial breakthrough came from the health center’s security guard, who reported seeing a woman exit the facility carrying a baby along with personal luggage.
Facility staff subsequently identified the suspect as Racheal Nanyonga, a resident of Kakondwe Village in Kitumbi Sub-county, Kassanda District.
Armed with this information, police launched an targeted operation in Kakondwe Village, locating Nanyonga, placing her under arrest, and safely recovering the baby boy unharmed. During interrogation, Nanyonga confessed to the theft, admitting she had fabricated a months-long pregnancy to deceive her boyfriend and stole the infant to cover up the lie.
“We appeal to medical workers in antenatal departments to take their jobs seriously. One wonders how a person fakes pregnancy with labor pains and gets admitted by a qualified midwife without detecting such a person.” Police PRO Wamala region SSP Lameck Kigozi stated.
The suspect remains in custody while police finalize her case file for submission to the Resident State Attorney of Kassanda, where she faces formal charges of child stealing.
The breach has raised serious questions regarding security and screening protocols at local medical facilities. Police spokespersons emphasized the need for healthcare workers—particularly in antenatal departments—to exercise greater vigilance, noting the troubling ease with which an individual faking labor was able to gain admission to a ward alongside genuine patients.
