By Our Reporter,
MBARARA
Uganda’s only surviving set of sextuplets (six babies) are nearing final discharge after they were successfully discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and transferred to a general ward at Holy Innocents Children’s Hospital in Mbarara.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the hospital shared: “A joyous milestone, our sextuplets have been discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and are now in another ward, preparing for home.”
The sextuplets; five boys and one girl were born prematurely on Good Friday to 32-year-old Glorious Betonde and Vincent Tumwesigye, residents of Nyamufumura, Sheema district in Southwest Uganda. The historic birth occurred at Neo Care Fertility Centre in Mbarara and was followed by immediate transfer to Holy Innocents Hospital for specialized neonatal care.
Born at just seven months gestation and weighing under 2 kilograms each, the infants were placed on oxygen and required around-the-clock monitoring in NICU. Medical experts have confirmed that all six babies are now breathing independently and, though they remain under observation as they prepare for final discharge.
“This is a rare and delicate case, and we are grateful the babies have responded well to care,” said Dr. Steven Busingye, a pediatrician at the facility. “Our team is monitoring feeding, weight gain, and development before final discharge home.”
Earlier this week, the hospital welcomed visitors from Kinoni Girls Secondary School, whose Headmistress and staff brought gifts and expressed support for the family.
“In photos, a wonderful team from Kinoni Girls, led by the HM, visited to check on the babies,” the hospital shared on X.
The visit was part of a growing wave of public and institutional support for Betonde and her newborns.
The family has drawn national attention and assistance, including financial support from Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, who donated UGX 5 million, and Sheema district Woman member of parliament, Hon. Rosemary Nyakikongoro to aid with the children’s care.
A hospital staff who spoke to Parrots Media said the babies have grown stronger and that they are working with the family to ensure a safe and well-supported transition from hospital to home.
Background reporting from Parrots Media: Sheema woman gives birth to six babies on Good Friday.
