Busoga police probe infant death after unsafe circumcision

A peaceful day in Bukizibu-Nawampongo village, Mayuge District, turned into a nightmare when a one-year-old boy bled to death following a botched circumcision carried out without his mother’s consent.

The shocking incident has not only shaken the small village but ignited a larger conversation about the dangers of unregulated circumcision practices in rural Uganda.

The story began when Aisha Nampiina, a neighbor to the child’s family, took it upon herself to escort the baby to a circumcision center without the knowledge of the boy’s mother, Efrance Gwere. The center, run by a man identified as Kato, was operating without any recognized medical qualifications or oversight.

The details are chilling: after the procedure, Nampiina noticed that the child was bleeding uncontrollably. Instead of seeking immediate medical help, she reportedly wrapped a towel around the boy’s waist and laid him on a bed. Later, she reassured Gwere that the circumcision had been successful and even encouraged her to breastfeed the infant, not disclosing the seriousness of the situation.

The moment Gwere arrived home, she was confronted with the horrifying sight of her baby soaked in blood. In desperation, she called for help, and neighbors rushed the boy to a nearby clinic. Unfortunately, it was too late—he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

A community outraged

The tragic death of the boy has sent shockwaves through the village and beyond. Gwere, heartbroken and distraught, shared that she had only left her child for a brief moment to wash clothes, never suspecting that her neighbor would take such a drastic and deadly step without her permission.

The community has reacted with a mixture of grief and anger. Local leaders have pointed fingers at the rise of illegal circumcision centers that perform dangerous procedures on infants, often with disastrous results.

Majid Mayindi, the LC I Chairperson, expressed deep concern about the rampant use of unqualified circumcisers. “This is not the first time we’ve seen such incidents,” Mayindi said. “Many infants are left with permanent damage, and in this case, a child has lost his life. It is unacceptable.”

The outcry has forced local authorities to confront the issue head-on. Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Thomas Matende, who visited the scene, emphasized the dangers of non-professional circumcision providers and urged parents to seek safer, government-approved medical services.

“This is a preventable tragedy. Parents must avoid these illegal circumcision centers at all costs,” Matende said.

Search for the perpetrators

As investigations unfold, authorities are actively searching for Kato, the man who performed the circumcision and remains at large. His circumcision center, described as an unregulated operation with no legal standing, has been blamed for other accidents in the past. Police have intensified their search for him, fearing that more children could be at risk if he remains free.

Meanwhile, Nampiina, who orchestrated the child’s circumcision, has been arrested and is currently being held at Mayuge Police Station. She faces charges of aiding murder and negligence. RDC Matende confirmed her arrest, stating that the law would take its course.

This incident is not an isolated case. In many rural areas of Uganda, illegal circumcision centers flourish due to a combination of cultural pressures and a lack of access to qualified medical professionals.

For many parents, the choice is often between no service at all or trusting a local practitioner with no formal training. This tragic death underscores the urgency of addressing the widespread lack of proper medical infrastructure in such communities.

Local leaders, healthcare advocates, and government officials are now calling for stricter regulations and more awareness about the dangers of unsafe circumcision. There’s a growing push to close illegal centers and ensure parents understand the risks involved in using unqualified circumcisers.

A wake-up call

For the residents of Mayuge District, this tragedy serves as a painful reminder of the dangers that lurk in unregulated health practices. As authorities hunt for Kato, the question remains: how many more children must suffer before meaningful action is taken to protect Uganda’s most vulnerable?

The death of Gwere’s child has become a rallying cry for safer healthcare practices, and many hope it will prompt a nationwide effort to regulate circumcision and other medical procedures in underserved areas.