UPDF medical workers rescue mother delivering by roadside

A 27-year-old fisherman at Kashaka Landing Site on Lake George in Western Uganda is still celebrating after the Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) medical workers rescued his wife who was delivering from the roadside.

Rogers Muhwezi run to the 309 Brigade barracks at Kafuru in Rubirizi district and appealed to the UPDF medical workers for an immediate rescue after his wife, Doreen Tukuzirwe, who had signs of labour, became unconscious as she was being transported to the health centre.
 
Muhwezi said he was transporting his wife on a motorcycle, assisted by his brother Emmanuel Habasa when the labor pains intensified, forcing him to immediately stop by the roadside, a few metres from the barracks.

In panic, Muhwezi said together with his brother they tried to help her but they got confused because she was bleeding and in great pain.

It was a few minutes after 10:00am on Tuesday, October 27. Muhwezi stopped and with the help of his brother who was holding her from behind, helped her off the motorcycle. A few minutes later, the baby started popping out, attracting bystanders.

Muhwezi said a woman who ran to the scene attempted to help cut the cord but she too was trembling and seemed to have no experience and he stopped her.

Muhwezi sensed danger and rushed to the main gate of the barracks where he called for help from the men manning it.

He said they too immediately rushed to the clinic where the in-charge, a medical clinical officer, Sgt. Richard Baguma, and a nurse, Hope Kweezi, rushed to the scene.

They found the mother still in pain, cut the cord and removed the baby alive. They then drove both the mother and baby to the clinic, where they were admitted for one day.

Muhwezi said both mother and child were in good condition and were now at home under the care of his sister-in-law.

How it started

Speaking from his boat inside Lake George after resuming his duty, Muhwezi said he realized that his wife was due because her condition had started changing.
 
He advised her to go to his (Muhwezi's) parents' home at Lutoto for easy monitoring since he always goes fishing. 

But according to him, she declined and assured him that she would manage the situation.
"As usual, I left home in the evening on Monday but when I returned the following morning, I found that her condition had worsened and she told me she was not feeling well," he said, adding that a few minutes later, her condition worsened and called his brother to escort them to the health centre.

Muhwezi grateful

Sounding jolly, Muhwezi said he was so grateful to the UPDF medical personnel who responded in time to save his wife and the baby. He said while at the clinic, they looked after her well with the baby, gave them all the treatment they needed and discharged them at no cost.

"I am so grateful to the soldiers. They gave us all the treatment we required and later discharged us at no cost," he said.

According to Muhwezi, he had not established the sex of the baby but at the clinic and after the treatment and confirming that the baby's life had been saved, he inquired from the nurse. He had expected the wife, on her third pregnancy, to deliver a baby girl.

"She only told me that they had named the baby Kamuwanda (a baby delivered by the roadside), which is a male name, confirming to me that it was a baby boy," Muhwezi said. He, however, said he rejected the name and decided to name the baby Akanyizuka.

The UPDF deputy spokesman, Lt. Col. Deo Akiiki, also applauded their medical personnel for rescuing the mother and saving both her life and that of the baby.