By Mike Rwothomio

A woman in her 20s, identified as Lona Giramia, has sparked public outrage in Zingili cell, Zingili Ward, Paidha Town Council, Zombo District after she allegedly aborted her eight-month-old fetus and dumped the body in a clogged pit latrine.

The incident came to light on Thursday, May 14, 2026, when concerned neighbours noticed that Giramia’s advanced pregnancy had suddenly disappeared without any sign of a newborn.

Local leaders questioned her, leading her to admit to the abortion and the disposal of the body in the pit latrine.

Innocent Otingcwinyu, the LCI Chairperson of Zingili cell, confirmed the incident. He said enraged community members attempted to lynch the woman upon discovering the body, but he intervened and escorted her to police custody.

The baby’s body was retrieved from the pit latrine and taken to police before being moved to Paidha Health Centre III mortuary for postmortem.

“The incident happened today at around 1 PM. I got the information and rushed to the scene, and indeed discovered that the baby was dumped in the pit latrine,” Otingcwinyu said.

He added that the body appeared to have been dumped approximately two days earlier.

Area Councillor for Zingili Ward, Pascal Kumakech, strongly condemned the act, attributing such incidents to a lack of parental responsibility. He confirmed that the woman had an eight months old pregnancy.

“This should serve as a strong warning to others. This is happening because of a lack of parental responsibility. Pregnancy is a blessing from God,” Kumakech noted.

Meanwhile, Sunday Kayom of the NGO MEMPROW linked similar cases partly to psychological trauma.

“In such a condition it could be trauma and probably a lot might have been happening around her and she couldn’t think beyond that,” Kayom said, emphasising the need for greater psychological support for affected women.

The woman had been living with her mother, while the identity of the man responsible for the pregnancy remains unclear.

Police are yet to issue an official statement on the matter.

This incident is the second of its kind in the same village. On Sunday, March 16, 2025, another woman in Zingili cell reportedly dumped a baby in a pit latrine shortly after giving birth.

The case occurs amid broader national trends in child-related offences. According to the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2025, a total of 8,064 child-related offences were reported nationwide in 2025, marking a 14.3% decrease from 9,408 cases in 2024. These include child neglect, desertion (1,205 cases in 2025), disappearance, abuse, and abandonment-related crimes.

Shocked community members

Mike Rwothomio is the News Editor at Zoomer Africa, your trusted grassroots information hub for African stories, voices, and updates.