Expelled medical worker arrested over abortion

BUIKWE- A medical practitioner is in detention at Lugazi Police Station after allegedly assisting a trainee teacher to abort her four-month pregnancy.

The 19-year student was pursuing a diploma in education at Gaba Primary Teachers College in Kampala.

She was reportedly impregnated by a tutor attached to the college. The tutor who is on the run reportedly advised the woman to abort.

Ssezibwa Regional Police Spokesperson, Ms Hellen Butoto, confirmed the detention of the medical practitioner who is a resident of Kyamadde Village, Lugazi Town Council in Buikwe District.

Ms Butoto said the student went to the suspect's home on April 28 where the abortion procedure was carried out.

However, after a few days, the woman’s health condition deteriorated forcing her to seek medical attention at Buikwe District Hospital from where she was informed by health workers that her uterus was damaged.

She reported the case at Lugazi Police Station leading to the arrest of the suspect on May 12.

 “When the suspect learnt that the student was not well, he got in touch with her parents and gave them Shs2 million to use it to treat their daughter," Ms Butoto said.

Ms Butoto said the suspect confessed in a statement he recorded at police that he has been assisting women to abort.

He said the illegal practice has been his source of income since 2007 when he was terminated from Kasangye Health Centre III, in Wakiso District.

When police raided the suspect's home, they recovered an assortment of medical equipment including a Ministry of Health stamp indicating that he turned it into an abortion centre.

The suspect, Ms Butoto said, will be charged with procuring an abortion contrary to section 143 of the Penal Code Act and once convicted, he is liable to imprisonment for three years.