By Mulengera Reporters
Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital has issued an official statement seeking to clarify circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a newborn, urging the public to remain calm as investigations continue into the troubling incident.
In a press statement dated April 28, 2026, the Hospital Director Dr. Robert Ssentongo elaborated that the case stems from an event that occurred in July 2025 involving a mother identified as Ms. Namulondo Ngunazabuula. According to the hospital, the mother safely delivered at the facility and received appropriate postnatal care before being discharged.
However, the situation took a dramatic turn shortly after discharge when the mother reportedly handed over the baby to a person she initially described as a cousin from Nansana in Wakiso District. It was later discovered that the individual had disappeared with the infant, triggering alarm among family members and the wider community.
The hospital management stated that upon receiving the report, an internal emergency response was immediately activated. The matter was escalated to hospital security, senior administrators and subsequently to the Uganda Police Force, which is now leading the investigations.
Preliminary findings indicate that the mother entrusted the child to someone she already knew, and who was perceived by both her and her attendants as a relative or close associate. Hospital officials emphasized that there were no visible signs at the time to suggest the baby was at risk.
The clarification comes amid rising public concern and criticism, particularly from the child’s relatives who have accused the hospital of negligence. The family has previously threatened legal action, arguing that a newborn could not simply vanish without lapses in security or supervision.
The case has also taken an unexpected twist after police arrested the baby’s father on allegations of defilement. Family members have questioned the connection between the missing child and the charges brought against him, describing the development as confusing and distressing.
Ssezibwa Region Police spokesperson Helen Butoto confirmed that detectives have reviewed CCTV footage from the hospital as part of ongoing inquiries, though no breakthrough has yet been publicly disclosed. Authorities maintain that investigations are active and complex.
Meanwhile, local leaders and child protection officials have called for patience, stressing the need to avoid speculation that could interfere with the investigative process. They also highlighted broader concerns about safety protocols in health facilities, particularly in maternity wards.
Hospital management reiterated its commitment to patient safety and pledged full cooperation with law enforcement agencies. The public has been urged to allow due process to take its course as efforts to locate the missing child continue.
Nearly a year later, the whereabouts of the baby remain unknown, which understandably has deepening anxiety within the community amid growing calls for accountability and collaborative management of such cases at such major hospitals. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
