Mukono — Police in Kayunga district have arrested a 19-year-old woman who has confessed to stealing a three-week-old baby from within the neighbourhood.

The suspect was identified as Sarah Najjuma, a resident in the district.

John Mwaule, the officer-in-charge at Mukono Police Station John Mwaule said the suspect stole the baby boy from her mother Betty Mukanziza who resides in Kirangira village in Mukono central division.

According to the officer, the suspect went to visit her aunt Resty Nakyagaba Friday last week in Kirangira, and that when it starting to rain, "she sneaked into the neighbour's house and stole the baby before vanishing into thin air".

At the police station, Najjuma confessed that she had told her boyfriend - Alafa Ssewanyana - that she was nine months pregnant.

"I had asked for [financial] help from Ssewanyana for quite a long time pretending that I was pregnant which forced me to steal and take the baby to him," she said.

Police arrested the Najjuma and her boyfriend (pictured right) from Bulenga village in Wakiso district where Ssewanyana resides.

The suspect's lover explained that Najjuma called him asking for money, that she was in labour pain and so he sent her the money. However, he did not say how much it was.

"I had stayed with her for some time and she left home pregnant. She came back home with a baby boy which I welcomed eagerly. She however told me she had no milk in her breasts and I had to buy milk," Ssewanyana explained.

Mukono district criminal investigating officer Henry Mugumya said Najjuma first took the baby to Busoga and later shifted to Bulenga where she found the boyfriend.

Mugumya said that the couple is yet to be prosecuted on charges of kidnap after police's thorough investigations.

By press time, the baby had refused to breastfeed following the three days without suckling his real mother's breasts. The real mother was advised to take her child for a medical check-up.