Police authorities in Kapoeta town on Friday briefly arrested a mother for allegedly abandoning her four-month-old baby for three weeks.

Mary Nakito, a social worker at Kapoeta’s police station, told Radio Tamazuj that the mother was arrested for leaving a four-month-old baby to her mother-in-law for a period of three weeks but the family agreed to settle the issue at home. The social workers confirmed that the woman was investigated and released to show further good conduct.

“We as social workers, we have allowed her to go back home to take care of the child because mother’s presence with the child is importance,” Nakito said.

Nakito, who is also a police officer, warned the woman against drinking alcohol, and urged her to concentrate on taking care of her family members.

The grandmother, 69, confirmed that her son’s wife left home for three weeks to drink alcohol, an accusation the mother denied.