Teen gives birth to conjoined twins in Soroti

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Medical experts at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital are calling for strengthened family planning and early antenatal care after a 17-year-old girl gave birth to rare, conjoined twins on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Dr Irene Chebet, the gynaecologist in charge of the maternity ward, emphasised the critical role of planned pregnancies and regular medical check-ups in preventing complications.

“Early medical intervention and regular antenatal visits are crucial in identifying and managing pregnancy complications effectively,” Dr Chebet said.

Dr Chebet and fellow gynaecologist Dr Alfred Ogwang led the emergency procedure after discovering that the twins were conjoined at the torso, with two heads, three arms, and two legs.

The teenage mother, who had been referred from Soroti Eastern Division Health Centre III, was initially thought to be carrying twins in a breech position. However, upon arriving at Soroti hospital in labour at about 37 weeks, doctors discovered the rare condition, prompting an emergency caesarean section.



The conjoined baby girl, sharing a single body and weighing 3 kilograms at birth, had noticeable swelling on her back. She was immediately admitted to the neonatal unit for specialised care.

Dr Chebet warned that delayed antenatal visits often contribute to severe complications, including cases such as this. She urged expectant mothers to attend all scheduled check-ups for the safety of both mother and child.

“This case reminds us of the life-saving importance of timely and consistent medical check-ups during pregnancy,” she added.

Health experts note that regular monitoring not only helps to detect abnormalities early but also improves outcomes in high-risk pregnancies.

History of conjoined twins in the region

In March 2021, twin girls were delivered at Amuria Health Centre IV to 21-year-old Joyce Alinga, who had conceived during the COVID-19 lockdown. Tragically, one of the twins died shortly after birth but remained attached to her living sister for six days.

Doctors at Amuria referred the babies to Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, which in turn directed the family to Mulago National Referral Hospital for possible separation surgery. However, the family was unable to secure an appointment at Mulago, reportedly due to a lack of funds, and was forced to return to Soroti. During this period, the surviving twin endured nearly a week attached to her deceased sister before surgery was carried out.

Earlier, in June 2020, medics in Soroti successfully delivered a baby implanted on her mother’s liver — another rare and high-risk case that highlighted the hospital’s growing reputation for handling complex maternal emergencies.

Dr Joseph Epodoi, a senior consultant surgeon and urologist at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, has led numerous complex surgeries in Eastern Uganda, particularly cases that would typically be referred to Mulago or even abroad. He is renowned for performing some of the region’s most intricate surgical procedures, including the successful separation of conjoined twins and rare tumour removals.

What are conjoined twins?

Conjoined twins are two babies who are physically connected at birth. This rare condition occurs when a single fertilised egg fails to fully separate during early development. Although the exact cause is unknown, it is believed to result from incomplete splitting or fusion of the embryo in the early weeks of pregnancy.

All conjoined twins are identical (monozygotic), and about two-thirds are female.

How common are conjoined twins?

Conjoined twins are extremely rare, occurring in approximately 1 in every 50,000 pregnancies. Sadly, many do not survive — up to 60% are stillborn or die shortly after birth due to shared anatomy, making life unsustainable. Those who do survive often face complex surgeries and long-term medical care.