Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital has said their paediatric surgery team carried out a life-saving procedure and successfully removed “about 50 stitching needles and other foreign bodies” from a nine-year-old boy.
“Needles were scattered across the stomach and the ‘miraculous’ soul is now out of danger, will continue following up care. This is just one of specialised operations we perform here,” the Hospital said in a statement Tuesday evening.
This comes as a relief following the last week’s report by Police that his 45-year-old step mother had forced him to swallow the sewing (stitching) needles.
Information from Police also indicates that by May 7, the woman had been remanded to prison in Mitooma District, Western Uganda on the above allegations.
According to reports by this publication, Juliet Tushabeomwe appeared before the Mitooma Chief Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, May 7, 2026, on charges of aggravated torture, days after she was arrested on allegations of forcing the boy to swallow the needles over a period of two weeks. But she pleaded not guilty.
But the presiding magistrate, Gibson Muhangi, remanded her to prion until June 14, when she’s expected to be returned to court for further mention of her case while the victim is in hospital fighting for his life.
The prosecution states that between August 2025 and April 28, 2026, while at Rweibare village in Kasheshero Sub-county, Tushabeomwe intentionally and unlawfully forced Samuel Akamumpa, to ingest the metallic objects and plastic fragments.
The state prosecutor, Ms Caroline Kesubi informed the court that investigations into the case are complete.
The victim is receiving specialized care at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital following surgery to remove the objects.
The Greater Bushenyi Police Commander, Godfrey Achiria, earlier told this publication that investigations were ongoing to determine the full extent of the abuse.
