Baby recovered from river bed in Moroto

Moroto

The police in Moroto have recovered a day-old baby that had been dumped in a seasonal river in Moroto. Police spokesman George Obia said the baby was recovered after a tip-off by residents.

Police suspect a homeless woman in the town delivered the baby but decided to dump it on the dry river bed, hoping that it would be swept away when the river filled.

Baby saved
“The baby was just dumped by the river after the rains stopped but water had not yet started flowing. It could have killed the baby,” he said. Rivers in Karamoja have the uncanny behaviour of being empty one minute and flooding the next. He said the police are hunting for the mother who faces arrest and prosecution while the baby has been placed under the care of the Charity Sisters.

Mr Obia advised women to use family planning to avoid unwanted pregnancy. “Delivering a child and throwing it in the river or pit latrine is a crime,” he said.