The 32-year-old allegedly slit her daughter's stomach open and removed her intestines -- before taking her to the hospital for treatment -- move authorities say was a cover-up.

Hospital personnel called police after realising that the already dead baby had no intestines.

Nakalema said: "I didn't kill my daughter. I can never do it. I believe It's Satan who cut open my daughter's stomach."

A pool of blood was found at the residence where she had been working as a house help for a Ugandan who lives abroad.

Long prayers

NBS TV quotes neighbours reporting that Nakalema had been praying for about 3 hours calling for her local pastor to save her daughter.

"We heard them praying until like 5 am. We didn't know what was happening."