Doctors use magnets to extract needles from child's stomach after horrific abuse

A 9-year-old boy, Samuel Akamumpa, has been saved after a team of pediatric surgeons at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital successfully removed 50 sewing needles and broken pen fragments from his stomach. 

Samuel had allegedly been forced by his stepmother to swallow the dangerous objects, leading to severe pain, weight loss, and dark stools over the course of eight months.

The young boy, from Rweibare Village in Kasheshero Sub-county, Mitooma District, was suffering from constant abdominal discomfort before the distressing cause of his condition was uncovered. 

After a series of scans at a medical imaging center in Bushenyi-Ishaka, doctors were shocked to discover the foreign objects lodged in his abdomen. 

He was subsequently referred to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital on April 28, 2026, for treatment.

In a delicate operation, a team of seven pediatric surgeons employed magnets to extract the sewing needles, some of which were still attached to threads, and pieces of crushed pens from Samuel’s stomach. 

Mbarara Hospital acting director, Dr. Deus Twesigye said the child’s recovery process included blood transfusions, antibiotics, pain medication, and comprehensive wound care. Following successful surgery, 

Samuel is currently receiving psychiatric counseling to help him process the trauma he experienced.

In addition to the medical treatment, Samuel’s stepmother, 45-year-old Juliet Tushabeomwe, has been charged with aggravated torture and attempted murder.

Tushabeomwe allegedly forced Samuel to swallow 46 sewing needles and shards of broken glass between August 2025 and April 2026. She appeared in court on May 7, 2026, and was remanded to Mitooma Prison pending a further hearing on June 11, 2026.