Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Uganda Monitor
Published on 2024-04-06 14:48:18
Police in Kiboga district are currently holding a 32-year-old traditional doctor and a 41-year-old woman, suspected to be his accomplice, in connection with the murder of two siblings in a suspected ritual sacrifice in Kirinda village, Kasega parish, Kapeke Sub County. The victims, five-year-old Easter Nakasumba and her two-year-old sister Sylvia Nantongo, went missing after their parents sent them home for lunch while working on their farm. Tragically, their decapitated bodies were discovered the following day.
The police were able to track down the traditional doctor, Sulaiman Sentongo, with the help of a sniffer dog that led them to his home. Sentongo had fled the scene but was apprehended in Kireka, Kampala, along with his alleged accomplice Maureen Namuleme. The suspects are currently being held at Kiboga CPS for further questioning. This brings the total number of arrests to three, including Sentongo’s wife who was detained earlier.
According to a statement by the Wamala region police spokesperson, Ms Rachel Kawala, preliminary findings indicate that the two children were reported missing on April 3, 2024, and their torsos were found the following day in Kirinda village. Investigations led to the home of Sentongo, where additional evidence was gathered. The police are continuing their investigation into this horrific crime.
In response to this double murder, Kiboga Resident District Commissioner, Ms Mariam Nalubega Sseguya, ordered a head count and identification program to register all legitimate traditional healers in the district. The goal is to eliminate fake healers who engage in criminal activities such as child sacrifice, theft, robbery, and rape, which tarnish the reputation of genuine traditional healers.
Addressing a security meeting in Kirinda village, Ms Nalubega emphasized the importance of identifying and weeding out fake healers who exploit their positions for criminal purposes. The meeting was attended by internal security officers, village chairpersons, and religious leaders, highlighting the seriousness of the issue at hand.
Traditional healers have long been associated with cases of child sacrifice and mysterious deaths in the central region. Some have also been accused of sexually assaulting women who seek their services. In 2018, local leaders in neighboring Mubende District called for the banning of traditional healers who make false claims of supernatural powers to enrich individuals.
There are also claims that traditional healers use human remains in their rituals to harm enemies or cast spells, although this has not been scientifically proven. The prevalence of such practices raises concerns about the ethical conduct of traditional healers and the need for stricter regulation in the industry.
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