Dr. Godfrey Egwau, a gynecologist in Soroti City and the proprietor of Welfare Clinic, has been remanded to Soroti Government Prisons on charges of negligence following the death of a patient during childbirth.
The Chief Magistrate at Soroti Magistrate Court, Sarah Nantongo, stated that she required additional time to review the sureties presented by Dr. Egwau before ruling on his bail application. As a result, she remanded him until February 6, 2025.
Paul Okello, the State Attorney, opposed the bail application submitted by Dr. Egwau’s lawyer, Sam Kikomeko, raising concerns about one of the sureties, John Eperu, who is 64 years old—almost the same age as the accused. Okello questioned Eperu’s ability to ensure Dr. Egwau’s court appearances due to his advanced age.
Additionally, Okello noted that Kikomeko had only submitted a single document regarding the accused’s health conditions. He requested further documentation to substantiate claims that Dr. Egwau suffers from diabetes and hypertension.
In response, Kikomeko argued that Dr. Egwau’s medical condition could deteriorate if he remained in custody. He also emphasized that the accused is the primary provider for his family.
Dr. Egwau was arrested last month following the death of Emmia Lucy Aluka, the parish chief of Kapelebyong District, who died while giving birth at his clinic.
Investigations revealed that Dr. Egwau had been operating without a valid medical license—his last license expired in 2021—and that his clinic was not authorized to conduct surgical procedures.
Initial reports from the family indicate that they heard the baby crying after the procedure, leading them to believe everything had gone well. However, nurses later informed them that Dr. Egwau and his team were still attending to Aluka.
Witness accounts suggest a lack of communication from Dr. Egwau regarding Aluka’s condition until around 3 a.m., when a fellow patient reported seeing what appeared to be a body being loaded into Dr. Egwau’s vehicle. The family later discovered that Aluka’s body had been taken to Bethesda Mortuary, where they faced difficulties obtaining information.
Mortuary staff revealed that Dr. Egwau had personally delivered the body and refused to release it without his consent.