The Police and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) are facing intense scrutiny over their handling of a troubling child theft case in Mbale City.
The case centers around the alleged abduction of a two-week-old baby belonging to 23-year-old Ruth Khalayi , who claims her child was forcibly taken by Apostle Tom Billy Nkwanga of Jehovah Rapha Ministries in Nauyo, Mbale Industrial City Division.
Khalayi alleges that her baby was seized and taken by Apostle Nkwanga, who then allegedly drove her away from the church premises.
Despite her desperate efforts to recover her child, the police and DPP have been accused of obstruction and lack of transparency in their response, prompting serious questions about their integrity and effectiveness in handling this sensitive matter.
Khalayi's ordeal began on March 12, 2023, after she was introduced to Pastor Nkwanga by a female stranger, a purported church member.
Khalayi claims her newborn baby, Emma Yawangula , was taken for prayers and never returned.
According to Khalayi, the church officials have since insisted that the baby died and was buried but have failed to provide any proof of death or the baby's remains.
Khalayi recounted that her distress started after she sought help from Jehovah Rapha Ministries as a struggling single mother.
Her baby's father, a relative of the Manafwa District Chairperson, had disowned the child, prompting her to seek support.
However, her quest led to the disappearance of her baby and her subsequent expulsion from the church.
Khalayi alleges that Pastor Nkwanga pressured her to consent to the adoption of her child, which she refused.
Local council leader Hassan Wabutwa confirmed her claims. Reports from neighbors also hinted at previous cases of child theft at the church, which compounded Khalayi's fears.
Her efforts to seek help from the local police were met with further hurdles, including demands for witnesses to verify the return of her child.
Upon returning with a witness, a nurse named Sarah Nadunga, the church claimed the baby had died and been buried.
No medical records or death certificates were provided to Khalayi, deepening her anguish and suspicions of foul play.
Efforts to reach Apostle Nkwanga were initially blocked by church members.
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Later, Muzee Bolt, the church administrator, claimed the church took custody of the baby after Khalayi, allegedly mentally unstable, attempted to harm the child.
Bolt stated the baby died due to a congenital intestinal deformity, citing a police doctor's postmortem report that confirmed a natural death.
However, this narrative conflicts with the statements of other officials. Mbale City Probation Officer Dominic Wanzira admitted to granting temporary custody of a baby named Mukisa Caleb to Apostle Nkwanga, believing the child had been abandoned by a mentally ill mother.
Wanzira and other officials have since noted flaws in the custody process.
The Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, where the postmortem was allegedly conducted, denies having any record of a baby named Mukisa Kaleb.
Senior Administrator Jonas Oboth confirmed that while there were similar cases around the reported date, no postmortem was conducted, and no records match the descriptions provided by the church or the police.
The circumstances surrounding the baby's disappearance, conflicting accounts from different authorities, and the absence of a DNA test or proper evidence have raised concerns of potential foul play and child theft.
Khalayi's family is now calling for high-level intervention to seek justice for their daughter and her missing baby.
The case continues to attract public attention, with many questioning the handling of both the child's custody and the investigation by the police and DPP.
The lack of clarity and transparency has fueled suspicions that the narrative around Khalayi's mental health and the baby's death may have been manipulated to obscure the truth.
