Police arrest teenager after aborting twins

Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Police in Kiira region have this Wednesday confirmed the arrest of a 15 year old resident of Budondo ward, in Northern division of Jinja city for procuring an abortion.

The jouvenille suspect is currently detained at Budondo police station, awaiting prosecution.

The suspect has reportedly been carrying a seven months pregnancy of twins. However, on being convinced by her peers that giving birth to two children at a young age might lead to death, she settled for abortion.

The suspect says that she left for antenatal care at Kyomya health center II with one of her friends only identified as Moureen and successfully interacted with the midwife who advised her to return for further check up next month. She adds that during their journey from the health facility, Moureen gave her a concoction, which she drank and collapsed at the roadside.

Assisted by well-wishers, Moureen took her back to Kyomya health center II where the two baby girls were delivered dead.

Amidst such circumstances, the suspect bled profusely and was rushed to Budondo health center IV from where she was arrested after recovery.

A scan was conducted confirming abortion and the suspect claimed that the two corpses were dumped in the pit latrine of Kyomya health center II.

Police’s fire brigade and rescue services personnel have been dispatched to inspect the scene, with no viable proof of dumping human remains and on further interrogation, the suspect then claimed that the deceased were buried in a sugarcane plantation.

Moureen and two other individuals who allegedly aided her to illegally procure the abortion are currently on the run, but police has intensified the hunt for them.

Now, the suspect’s mother says that, her daughter dropped out of school in primary six following endless ridicule by classmates over the pregnancy and she had resolved to continue with education after delivery, only to be taunted until she aborted.

She says that, her daughter has been recieving support from her siblings in upper classes who were jointly hopeful of supporting her re-integration in school after child birth and the abortion news has created disarray in their household.

Now, the Kiira regional police spokesperson, James Mubi says that they have partnered with a psychiatrist to offer psychological support to the suspect as they continue with the  prosecution processes.

Mubi says that the suspect is undergoing phase of regret after being misled by her peers and they are delicately handling the matter to deter further harm to the minor.

Mubi says that, detectives are intensifying enquiries to identify the source of the concoction and distribution of the same to minors.

He adds that unless advised by a medical personnel as the only life saving remedy, procuring or aiding abortion is criminal therefore, the suspect and her accomplices still at large will face the law.

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