The High court in Fort Portal has sentenced a 20-year-old woman to five years in prison for kidnapping and stealing a one-month-old baby from a health facility in Kamwenge district.
Moreen Natukunda was convicted after pleading guilty and entering into a plea bargain agreement with the prosecution.
Court heard that on April 25, 2025, Natukunda abducted the infant from Rwamwanja health centre IV in Nkoma-Katalyeba town council, where the child’s mother had been admitted.
Prosecution stated that Natukunda took advantage of the fact that she was staying at the same health facility while attending to a relative and stole the baby while the mother was asleep.
Upon discovering that her child was missing, the mother alerted health workers, who in turn reported the matter to police.
A search operation was immediately launched, leading to Natukunda’s arrest and the recovery of the infant, who was subsequently reunited with the mother.
The court sentenced Natukunda to five years’ imprisonment on each count. However, the sentences will run concurrently, meaning she will serve a total of five years in prison.