A water vendor, Hassan Kigo, has denied the paternity of six-month-old twins over his wife’s failure to produce their umbilical cords.
According to Uganda’s Daily Monitor, Kigo, 4o, allegedly refused to take care of the twins and has been arrested by the police in Iganga District of Eastern part of the country.
Kigo is reported to have abandoned his wife, Mariam Nampina, two months ago after she reportedly failed to produce the twins’ umbilical cords.
Nampina, who now lives in a rented house in Maga Maga in Mayuge District, said the babies were critically sick and had stopped taking breast milk, forcing her to seek assistance from the husband to take them to hospital.
The suspect who was intercepted around Old Kaliro Road in Iganga Town while ferrying jerry cans of water for sale refused to take the babies to the hospital unless the mother produced their umbilical cords.
“If those children are mine, let her produce their umbilical cords. I gave her a house but she was always running away. I am tired of her nonsense,” Mr. Kigo said in his defence.
Ms. Nampina says her domestic woes started after she had given birth, “shortly after being delivered of the twins, he (Kigo) said my figure had ‘faded’ and that I could no longer be his wife. He then chased me away and eloped with another woman,” she said.
A scuffle ensued when locals confiscated Kigo’s bicycle and jerry cans of water as he tried to flee.
Alex Matovu, one of the residents, said: “The babies resemble the suspect and all we want is for him to take care of them.”
“If the two had issues in their relationship, babies are not part of them and should be cared for. These babies resemble him and if he has any doubts, he should go for a DNA test,” Mr Matovu added.
