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Family rejects DNA results in Tanzania, refuses to bury deceased infant
Neema Luligala, who claimed her newborn baby girl was switched at Mount Meru Referral Hospital, speaks to journalists in Arusha today after receiving the DNA test results.
What you need to know:
- The Ministry of Health previously suspended a nurse involved in Ms Kilugala’s delivery as investigations into the matter commenced.
Arusha. A family in Arusha has refused to collect the body of a baby confirmed through DNA testing to be theirs, citing doubts over the results and demanding further tests to be conducted abroad.
A resident of Ndarvoi in Arusha, Neema Kilugala, 26, and her family have questioned the credibility of DNA results released six days ago, which showed with 99.99 percent accuracy that the child she was given at Mount Meru Regional Referral Hospital was biologically hers.
The child, however, died before the results were made public.
Speaking on Wednesday at their home in Daraja Mbili Ward, Ms Kilugala and her mother, Ms Sabrina Andrew, maintained their stance that the deceased child is not theirs, and thus, no funeral arrangements have been made at their residence.
“We are not mourning because our child is still alive,” said Ms Kilugala. “I recognised the baby I was shown after delivery, but the child they now claim is mine is not the same. I cannot bury a child who is not mine.”
Ms Kilugala further stated that she gave birth on March 24, 2025, via Caesarean section and was initially informed that her baby girl was healthy, weighing 3.1 kilogrammes.
She has insisted that the baby who passed away, reportedly weighing 2.285 kilogrammes and diagnosed with an enlarged heart, does not match her child’s description.
The family has since appealed to the public for financial support to facilitate independent DNA testing outside the country.
“We still do not believe the child who died was our grandchild,” said Ms Andrew. “We’re asking well-wishers to help us afford a second round of testing abroad so we can be fully assured.”
The Ministry of Health previously suspended a nurse involved in Ms Kilugala’s delivery as investigations into the matter commenced.
The nurse reportedly admitted to mistakenly swapping baby wraps with another infant but said she had attempted to rectify the error shortly after.
The incident sparked widespread public interest and prompted intervention from the Tanzania Nurses Association (TANNA). Speaking after the release of the DNA results, TANNA Vice President Jane Bararukuliliza confirmed that the association had followed up on the case.
“It is true that the nurse, identified as Glory, handed Neema her biological child. Unfortunately, the baby later passed away,” she said. Ms Bararukuliliza added that those still dissatisfied with the results were free to seek further clarification through appropriate legal and medical channels.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Health has urged all health professionals to continue upholding ethical standards and delivering quality care as investigations continue.
