A team of pediatric surgeons at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital has successfully saved a nine-year-old boy after removing dozens of sewing needles and pieces of broken pens from his stomach in a complex surgical procedure.
The child, identified as Samuel Akamumpa, had reportedly endured months of severe abdominal pain, weight loss and passing dark stools before doctors discovered the shocking cause of his condition.
Akamumpa, a resident of Rweibare Village in Kasheshero Sub-county, Mitooma District, had allegedly been forced by his stepmother to swallow sharp metallic objects over a prolonged period.
Medical investigations began after his condition worsened and he was taken to a diagnostic imaging centre in Bushenyi-Ishaka. Scans later revealed multiple foreign objects lodged inside his stomach, prompting his referral to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital on 28 April 2026 for emergency specialised treatment.
Doctors at the hospital carried out a delicate operation involving a team of seven pediatric surgeons, who used magnets to carefully extract about 50 sewing needles, some still attached to threads, along with fragments of crushed pens from the boy’s stomach.
According to the hospital’s acting director, Deus Twesigye, Samuel underwent intensive post-operative care, including blood transfusions, antibiotics, pain management and wound treatment.
The child is now recovering and undergoing psychiatric counselling to help him cope with the trauma.
Meanwhile, police arrested Samuel’s stepmother, Juliet Tushabeomwe, in connection with the case. The 45-year-old has been charged with aggravated torture and attempted murder.
Prosecutors allege that between August 2025 and April 2026, she forced the boy to swallow 46 sewing needles and pieces of broken glass. She appeared before court on 7 May 2026 and was remanded to prison until 11 June 2026 when the case returns for further hearing.
