Police have started investigations into the death of a mother and her newborn baby at Luwero hospital.
Specioza Nabasinga aged 36 years a resident of Kakabala village died at Luwero hospital after giving birth to a baby girl on Saturday. The newborn child was rushed to Kiwoko Hospital for further management but she also died on Monday.
The husband Laban Otuuka and local leaders accuse a doctor at Luwero hospital of delaying the operation of Nabasinga leading to her death and child.
Otuuka is also demanding that the doctor be arrested for asking 200, 000 shillings to conduct the cesarean operation and negligence of duty.
Abel Bekunda the Luwero Deputy Resident District Commissioner says that as a result of the complaints, his office directed Police to investigate the cause of the death.
Bekunda explains that police rushed to the village and stopped the burial of the deceased until the postmortem is done to form the basis of charges that will be preferred against the accused doctor.
Bekunda added that the postmortem was done at Mulago Hospital and Police were on the way to return the body for burial today.
Salim Zimula the Kakabala parish councilor says that the family and residents had completed the burial rituals before Police stopped the ceremony.
Zimula said they cooperated with the Police because they wanted justice and prosecution of doctors over negligence of duty. He however said there are concerns that Police have delayed arresting the doctor and he may jeopardize investigations into the death.
Isah Ssemwogerere the Savannah Regional Police Spokesperson says that Police have opened up a Death Enquiry File to establish how the woman died but they are yet to prefer any case against doctors at Luwero hospital.
Ssemwogerere added that they can’t also arrest any doctor now before the bereaved family records a statement and access the postmortem report.
Doctor Steven Magera the Medical Superintendent of Luwero hospital admitted that they hadn’t conducted a postmortem before handing over the body to the bereaved family on Saturday night.
Magera said they were also investigating how the woman could have died and disciplinary action will be taken in case they didn’t act professionally Magera however noted that the hospital is currently facing drug stock out over delayed supplies by National Medical Supplies and there is the possibility that the money was intended to buy the supplies from private pharmacy so as to operate on the woman.
About 15 women died in the financial year 2020/2021 during delivery. The district health officials blamed the deaths majorly on arriving late at the health centers.
