Parents and their four-month-old child have been reunited after the infant was purportedly kept by Roswell Women and Children Hospital for nonpayment of medical expenses.
Last month, Alinda Mugenyi and Saloome Aturinde, bridgers, filed a lawsuit against Roswell Women and Children Hospital Limited for keeping their newborn child.
The parents asserted through their attorneys that the hospital’s actions were harsh, cruel, and demeaning because they treated their infant like a commodity.
The hospital allegedly even threatened to sell the infant to the home of Sanyu infant, according to the couple.
They said that the mother was not allowed to breastfeed or give the kid pumped breast milk due to hospital policies, which raised questions about the mother’s suffering and potential health hazards.
After Civil Division Judge Esta Nambayo got the Government Analytical Laboratory’s (GAL) results on Friday, Saloome was able to claim her kid.
The results showed that Saloome and Bridgers Arinda Mugenyi were the child’s biological parents.
Senior Government Analyst Musa Kirya presented the findings to the court.
Kirya informed the court that the Directorate of GAL got an order from the court on September 1st, 2023, demanding DNA testing between the child and the purported parents, Aturinde and Arinda.
The hospital paid 750,000 Shillings in the bank, and the Director approved the test, according to testimony given to the court by the director of the Forensic Biology Unit.
Next, samples were obtained from Bridgers, Salomme, and the infant. He indicated that eight people saw this, including those who worked at Roswell Hospital.
It was Israel, Soleya Nakato, the babysitter, Gerald Sunday, Edward Damba, Joyce Nanteza, Juma Kayondo, Christopher Ocom, Enock Bakwate, and Joel Kindadaire.
“I performed DNA analysis on the samples after I collected them, and based on my findings, I came to two conclusions. First, the analysis’s findings clearly corroborate the theory that the baby in question is the biological son of Arinda Bridgers Mugenyi. Second, Kirya informed the court, ” The analysis’s findings clearly support the theory that Atulinde Saloome is the child’s biological mother.
Judge Esta Nambayo instructed the caregiver to give the infant to the distraught mother after reviewing the findings. She changed the baby’s clothes right away.
In order to allow for the cross-examination of witnesses from both parties who swore affidavits in the main suit, Nambayo postponed the hearing until October 17.
Geoffrey Turyamusiima, the family’s attorney, and the family have applauded the ruling.
The parents demanded general damages for the way their constitutional rights were violated and for not being subjected to cruel, inhuman, or humiliating treatment.
The information presented indicates that Mugenyi went to Roswell Hospital with Aturinde on May 7, 2023, when her amniotic fluid began to leak.
Aturinde had been attending the same hospital for prenatal treatment. It was advised to have a cesarean delivery, and the infant was taken to the nursery to receive additional care.
Documents show that the hospital told the couple they could only go after paying the medical expenses, which were 4,367,000 Shillings for the infant and 5,210,000 Shillings for the mother, and were presented on May 11, 2023. According to reports, the hospital declined to give the baby back to its mother even though Mugenyi paid the fee on May 15, 2023.
Despite the initial unpaid payment of 4.3 million Shillings, the evidence showed that as of May 27, 2023, the total amounted to 16.2 million Shillings.
Semakula Mukiibi, the hospital’s attorney, made it clear in August that the infant was with Loving Hearts Baby’s Home and not Roswell Hospital.
He clarified that because the kid was born early, it had breathing issues upon birth and was treated in the neonatal unit.
He blamed sensationalism in the media for the current state of affairs. Mukiibi added that they had spoken with the baby’s grandfather, who thought the child had passed away.
Following a police report from Roswell Hospital on a case of newborn desertion, the Probation Officer of the Kampala Capital City Authority became involved and the baby was placed in a safe place.
After these exchanges of views, Lady Justice Nambayo issued an order on August 30, 2023, directing the hospital to bring the infant before her court.