By Steven Enatu
DOKOLO
Alfred Onoria, a police officer attached to Dokolo central police station is allegedly on the run after aiding the termination of five months old pregnancy of his girlfriend identified as Patricia Akullo.
Akullo is a 20 year old resident of Apala village, Angao Ogwec Parish, Dokolo Sub County in Dokolo District.
According to the victim, the suspect told her to abort on Tuesday, 14th November, 2023 because he wasn’t sure he was the one responsible for the pregnancy.
She narrates while on her hospital bed at Dokolo hospital that Onoria took her to the police barracks where he sleeps and put some two abortion pills in her tongue and another through the private body part and blood started flowing.
“When I told him I’m pregnant, he told me I should abort because he doesn’t believe that he is responsible for the pregnancy. He invited me to the barracks where he lives, then put two abortion pills in my tongue and two in my private parts. Blood started to flow, by the time I arrived at the facility here, he told me only to mind the pregnancy coming out saying all shall be well. Me I loved only him,” she painfully narrated.
Edmund Ogwang, the elder brother to the victim condemned the act adding that their sister disappeared from them because the suspect had threatened her not to reveal him.
“This would have caused the death of our sister, if this is how police also behave, it’s like they are aiding in the killing of innocent souls. It’s sad, our sister was learning tailoring skills,” he narrated.
The Resident District Commissioner Dokolo, Barbra Akech said all the two committed a crime.
She said that the two should have known that their act would lead to a pregnancy. “We shall try as security to investigate and if we find that the police officer had a hand, we shall deal with him according to the law,” she said.
The victims’ uncle Wilbert Otim said he tried his best to save the life of the innocent child but it was late. He appealed to the police officer to pick the remains of the fetus and bury it.
Meanwhile, the North Kyoga regional police spokesperson, Jimmy Patrick Okema said the matter is still premature and under investigation.
“What we have is a case of a lady who aborted and the two were in love but we shall investigate and find out whether the police officer aided or not, if we find that he aided then there will be two cases; of abortion and that of aiding abortion,” he said.
The case has been registered at Dokolo central police station under SD 42/14/11/2023.
Abortion in Uganda is generally illegal and is only legal in limited circumstances.
Article 22 of the 1995 Constitution provides for the right to life and Article 22(2) specifically provides that no one has the right to terminate an unborn child except if it’s authorized by law.
Currently, the Penal Code Act of Uganda Cap 120, provides for criminal penalties to several aspects of abortion and, in the absence of any other law, it remains the authority on instances in which abortion is or is not permitted.
Attempts to procure abortion (Section 141)Any person who unlawfully administers to any woman any poison, noxious substance or uses any force or any means on her with intent to cause a termination of a pregnancy can be punished upon conviction with imprisonment of 14 years. This offence punishes any person (including health service providers), who through any unlawful way helps and causes a woman to terminate a pregnancy.
Procuring miscarriage (Section 142) any pregnant woman who unlawfully administers to herself any poison or noxious thing or uses any force or any means on herself or even permits such a thing to be used on her can be punished upon conviction with imprisonment of 7 years. This offence punishes the woman who uses any means or even permits any means to be used upon her for the purposes of terminating a pregnancy.
Supplying drugs, etc. to procure abortion (Section 143) Any person who supplies anything knowing that it will be used unlawfully to terminate a pregnancy can be punished upon conviction with imprisonment for 3 years. This offence punishes any person, including a pharmacist, who provides anything to a woman or to any person knowing that it will be used to terminate a pregnancy.
