By Our Reporter
In a rare and extraordinary event that has captured the hearts of Ugandans nationwide, 32-year-old Glorious Betonde, a resident of Sheema District, has given birth to sextuplets—five boys and one girl—at just seven months into her pregnancy. The remarkable delivery took place earlier this week at Neo Care Fertility Centre in Mbarara City, where a team of specialists carried out an emergency cesarean section.
The birth, one of the most exceptional recorded in Uganda’s medical history, is Betonde’s second delivery, adding to the astonishment surrounding her case. Her husband, 30-year-old Vincent Tumwesigye, a local teacher, described the experience as “an overwhelming but joyous miracle.”
“We never expected six babies,” Tumwesigye said in an emotional interview. “We went for a routine scan and were told there might be more than one—but this is beyond our dreams. Our faith has carried us through.”
The premature infants, each born weighing significantly below the standard birth weight, were immediately transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Holy Innocents Children’s Hospital, also in Mbarara. They are currently under close supervision by a specialized team of neonatal and pediatric experts who are battling to stabilize and nurture the fragile newborns.
Medical Marvels & Risks Of High-Order Multiple Births
Delivering sextuplets is exceptionally rare and medically complex. Globally, such high-order multiples (births involving more than four babies) occur in fewer than 1 in 4.5 million pregnancies without fertility treatments, according to medical data. The risks associated with such pregnancies are considerable, including preterm birth, low birth weight, underdeveloped organs, and high maternal strain.
In Uganda, where neonatal care facilities are still developing, the successful delivery and ongoing treatment of sextuplets is both a miracle and a medical challenge.
Understanding What Leads To Multiple Births
While some high-order births occur naturally, many are associated with fertility treatments such as ovulation-stimulating drugs or in-vitro fertilization (IVF). However, in Betonde’s case, no public statement has confirmed whether assisted reproductive technologies were used.
Naturally occurring multiple births are often influenced by:
- Maternal age: Women over 35, like Betonde, are more likely to release multiple eggs during ovulation.
- Genetics: A family history of twins or triplets increases the likelihood.
- Previous pregnancies: Women who have previously given birth are at a slightly higher risk.
- Fertility treatments: These are known to significantly increase the chances of multiple births, though not always disclosed publicly.
Following the news, social media platforms exploded with messages of congratulations, prayers, and pledges of support. Citizens and public figures alike have applauded the medical teams and offered emotional and material assistance to the family.
Health rights activists and well-wishers are calling for the Ministry of Health and NGOs to step in with tangible support. As raising six premature children demands substantial resources—including neonatal care, formula, diapers, and housing assistance—the family will need significant help in the months and years to come.
Some voices are also calling for the development of a national response framework for rare high-multiplicity births, to ensure better preparedness in rural and urban health facilities.
A Symbol Of Hope
Meanwhile, as Uganda watches with bated breath, Glorious Betonde and her six tiny miracles have become a national symbol of strength, resilience, and the unbreakable bond of family. Their story, rooted in the hills of Sheema and unfolding in the hospital wards of Mbarara, is a powerful reminder of the fragility and wonder of life.
With continued medical attention and community support, there is hope that all six babies will survive and thrive—marking not just a statistical rarity, but a triumph of faith, medicine, and maternal courage.
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