Government to compensate couple 38m over raptured womb at Mulago Hospital

Mulago National Referral Hospital building. Government has been order to pay Shs38.5million to a couple as compensation for the hospital's negligence.

The High court in Kampala has ordered Government and two doctors attached to Mulago Hospital to pay Shs38.5million to a couple as compensation for depriving them the joy of having a child.
This was after Justice Elizabeth Musoke confirmed that the stillbirth and ruptured uterus suffered by a one Kate Namakula in February 2011 was caused by the negligence of Dr. Nsubuga and Dr. Mbulangira Peace Mary.
Ms Namakula and her husband Siras Kanyamugule of Lugeye – Kakiri Town Council had told court that on the morning of February 10, 2011, she went for an antenatal check-up at the facility. After undergoing a scan, she was recommended to deliver by caesarean. A doctor reportedly asked her for a Shs500,000 bribe to assist her undergo the caesarean birth.
But the couple did not have the money. Ms Namakula was then admitted to Ward 5C and left unattended to.

While at the labour ward she started getting contractions and labour pains and asked Dr. Nsubuga why she was not being taken to the theatre yet they were taking in other women who had arrived after her, but she was told to wait.
To their surprise after three hours Dr. Nsubuga informed her of how his shift had ended and that she should wait for the Doctor on the next shift to help her; but she was not attended to until the next day February 11, 2011 when Dr. Mbulangina Peace Mary made two checkups on her at 10am and 7pm but did not take her to the theatre.
Consequently, she had a stillbirth in the absence of medical personnel.

A scan was done and it was discovered that her womb had raptured. She was later taken to the theatre and stitched. Subsequently pus developed in her stomach and holes were drilled above and below the navel to allow discharge of pus.
The couple said Namakula was advised to seek medical attention at Nsambya Hospital, which she did and spent a lot of money.
The couple had sued the hospital and the Attorney General seeking compensation of Shs100 million in damages.
In her ruling, justice Musoke noted that the delay to perform an emergency C section on Namakula for more than 24hours resulted into the said injuries that are inexcusable regardless of the circumstances and she will never conceive again.