In a harrowing incident that exposes the perils of relying on traditional birth attendants, Mayuge, Busoga East region, is grappling with the aftermath of a maternal tragedy. The local police are on the hunt for Rose Amoge, a traditional birth attendant known as “Mulelwa,” implicated in a botched delivery that claimed the lives of both a mother and her newborn.
The victim, 30-year-old Jane Ajambo, a mother of three, tragically lost her life on Tuesday at Amoge’s residence in Bukasero village, Buyemba parish, Bukatuube subcounty, Eastern Mayuge district. Ajambo, desperate after a pregnancy lasting over thirteen months without delivery, sought the assistance of the renowned “Mulelwa” without the knowledge or consent of her husband, Paatu, a sugarcane truck driver. The couple resided in Namagera village, Baitambogwe subcounty, Mayuge district.
The disturbing revelation of Ajambo’s demise and that of her newborn surfaced when Amoge’s family, fearing legal repercussions, vanished, abandoning the lifeless bodies at home. This triggered a mix of shock and outrage within the community.
Emmanuel Okori, the youth councillor of Bukatube subcounty, shed light on the deceased’s complex marital situation. Ajambo had left her husband in Namagera to work at the Mayuge sugar factory, where she encountered Paatu, resulting in the pregnancy that ultimately led to her tragic end.
Diana Nandawula, the Busoga East police spokesperson, confirmed the incident and assured that efforts to apprehend Rose Amoge are in progress. “We are hunting for Rose Amoge to explain her activities of helping women to give birth. She is on the run, but we shall get her,” stated Nandawula, advising pregnant women to seek guidance from professional health personnel.
The bodies of the deceased were taken to Mayuge Health Center IV for postmortem examinations and will be subsequently handed over to their families for burial. This distressing episode underscores the critical need for proper medical care during childbirth, urging communities to prioritize the expertise of trained healthcare professionals over traditional practices.
