Housemaid, 18, arrested after dumping newborn baby in pit latrine

Kampala, (UG):- The Territorial Police at Kawempe Division have arrested an 18-year-old housemaid on allegations of dumping her newborn baby in a 16-foot pit latrine in Nansana Municipality, Wakiso District.

Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, SSP Patrick Onyango identified the maid as Moreen Ainembabazi, 18, whose arrest came after the 6:30 am incident on Monday, January 6, triggered the intervention of Police led by Sgt. Oluka Jude, attached to the Nansana Fire Station.

“Moreen’s employer, 39-year-old Niwagaba Praise, a breastfeeding mother herself, raised the alarm after noticing Ainembabazi’s delay in returning to the house. Upon investigating, Niwagaba found her in the pit latrine room with bloodstains on herself and the floor. She then heard the baby crying inside the pit latrine,” Onyango said.

She said police were later notified and a team from the fire and rescue services dug the pit latrine to rescue the baby who was found alive and rushed to Kawempe Referral Hospital for further medical attention.

“The team cleaned the baby with warm water, and rushed to Kawempe Mulago Referral Hospital along with Ainembabazi, who was still bleeding,” said Onyango, adding that a case of attempted infanticide has been registered at Nansana as investigations into the incident are ongoing.

He said police will later interrogate the 18-year-old mother on circumstances under which she dumped her own baby in the pit latrine.

Onyango condemned the act and urged the public to report cases of distress or suspected child abuse to the relevant authorities for timely intervention.

“This disturbing incident is not isolated, as there have been similar cases in Kampala, such as the one in Kasangati town council, Wakiso district, where a 25-year-old mother dumped her newborn baby in a pit latrine.”