A woman has been remanded by court after she allegedly attempted to bribe a cleaner at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital with Shs1 million to help her steal a baby from the facility.
The suspect, identified as Ruth Tindimwebwa, was arrested after the cleaner, Charles Begumisa, reportedly rejected the offer and alerted police.
According to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Begumisa exposed the alleged baby theft plot after refusing to accept the bribe and promptly reporting the matter to the relevant authorities.
“The MRRH Management Board has awarded Charles Begumisa, a hospital cleaner, for exposing a Shs1 million bribe attempt to steal a baby from Toto Ward. The suspect, Ruth Tindimwebwa, has been remanded,” the hospital said in a statement.
The hospital said Begumisa’s actions demonstrated integrity, accountability and patriotism, noting that his vigilance helped safeguard the safety of patients and protect the newborn.
In recognition of his honesty and professionalism, the hospital management presented him with an Integrity Award, which included an iPhone 13, during a ceremony presided over by the Chairperson of the Hospital Management Board, Dr. James Mugume.
“The Integrity Award was presented by the Board Chairman, Dr. James Mugume, who applauded the staff member’s vigilance and commitment to upholding patient safety,” the statement said.
The hospital further commended Begumisa for refusing to compromise his values despite the financial incentive.
“Accountability, integrity and patriotism at play! Kudos to the cleaner for rejecting Shs1 million to steal a baby. A well-deserved Integrity Award,” the hospital added.
The incident comes amid continued concern over child theft in Uganda.
According to the 2025 Annual Crime Report, Uganda Police recorded 263 cases of child theft in 2025, up from 252 cases reported in 2024, highlighting a persistent challenge despite efforts to curb the crime.
