A 50-year-old man in Kalungu District was left to care for his two-month-old baby after his wife disappeared for two days. Joseph Mboneka, a resident of Kinoggola village in Kaliro sub-county, sought help from Kalungu Police, expressing his struggles in managing the infant on his own.
Mboneka’s wife, 20-year-old Resty Wannyana, left home without warning, leaving her husband to care for their baby. Mboneka, clearly exhausted and desperate, arrived at the police station with the child, seeking assistance.
Recalling the moment Resty vanished, Mboneka said they were getting ready to head to their farm when Resty suddenly left, saying she was stepping out for a short break. After waiting for over half an hour and realizing she wasn’t returning, Mboneka began to worry. With no means of contacting her and struggling with childcare, he had no idea where she had gone.
After two difficult days, Mboneka reached out to a friend for help. Together, they managed to locate Resty in Kawule village, living with another man. This deepened Mboneka’s distress and confusion.
Mboneka believes his wife’s sudden abandonment is due to her drug addiction, specifically to marijuana. He explained that Resty’s behavior changed dramatically after getting hooked on the drug.
“It’s the drugs,” Mboneka stated. “When she hasn’t smoked, she’s herself. But once she’s using, she changes completely. It’s affecting her mind and her ability to care for our child.”
Fearing she might abandon the baby again, Mboneka decided to involve the police in hopes they could help resolve the situation and ensure the child’s safety.
At the police station, Resty admitted to using drugs but insisted that she had no intention of abandoning their baby for good. She explained that while her husband provides for her needs, her addiction to marijuana, which she attributed to spiritual forces, has taken control of her.
“It’s not me,” Resty explained. “There are powers that drive me to use the drugs.” Despite this, she assured the police that she didn’t intend to leave her child permanently.
Concerned for the baby’s welfare, the police decided to temporarily place the child in the care of a local children’s home in Kalungu while they continue their investigation.
Mboneka, heartbroken over his wife’s condition, hopes that with police intervention, a long-term solution can be found. He is eager for both his wife’s recovery and their child’s well-being.
Local authorities have also expressed their concern and are expected to step in with further support for the family. The safety of the baby remains the primary focus as authorities continue to look into the matter.
