Man Seeks Police Aid After Wife Abandons Two-Month-Old Baby

The woman allegedly fled to live off with another man in what the father of the child says is due to drug abuse

A 50-year-old man in Kalungu District sought police assistance after his wife abandoned their two-month-old baby for two days, leaving him struggling to care for the child on his own.

Joseph Mboneka, a resident of Kinoggola village in Kaliro sub-county, arrived at Kalungu Police Station, visibly exhausted, with his infant in tow.

He explained that his wife, 20-year-old Resty Wannyana, had left their home without warning and hadn’t returned for two days. Overwhelmed and unsure of how to handle the situation, he turned to the authorities for help.

Speaking to Nile Post, Mboneka recounted the events leading up to his wife’s disappearance. He said they were preparing to head to the garden for farming when Resty suddenly vanished.

"She told me she was going to ease herself, but she never returned. I waited for over 30 minutes, and she was nowhere to be seen. I had no way to contact her. I was left with the baby and no idea where she had gone," Mboneka said.

After two days of struggling to manage both the child and the household, Mboneka sought help from a friend. Together, they found Resty living with another man in Kawule village, further deepening Mboneka’s frustration.

He accused his wife of being addicted to drugs, particularly marijuana, and claimed this addiction had impaired her mental state, leading her to abandon their child.

"It’s the drugs. When she hasn’t smoked, she’s fine," Mboneka explained.

"She’s not the same person anymore. It’s affecting her mind, and that’s why she left our baby without care."

After reuniting with his wife, Mboneka decided to involve the police, hoping they could resolve the situation.

"I knew if I didn’t bring her to the police, she would abandon the child again," he said, expressing concern that Resty was not in the right state to be a responsible parent.

At Kalungu Police Station, Resty admitted to using drugs but insisted she had no intention of abandoning her child permanently. She explained that while her husband provides for her needs, she struggles with a marijuana habit, which she attributes to spiritual forces.

"It’s not me; I’m controlled by powers that make me crave the drugs," she said. However, she assured the police that she had no plans to give up her child.

Despite her assurances, police expressed concern for the infant's safety and well-being. After hearing both parents' accounts, authorities decided to remove the child from their care temporarily.

The baby was taken to a children's home in Kalungu for protection while investigations continue.

Mboneka, devastated by his wife’s condition and the instability it has caused, hopes the police intervention will lead to a long-term solution, both for the safety of their child and for his wife’s recovery.

Local authorities have also expressed concern and are expected to provide further support to the family. The welfare of the child remains the top priority as investigations into the family’s situation continue.