Police hunts for traditional healer over death of two siblings

Opolot was allegedly hired from Kapelebyong district to perform rituals that would help in the recovery of a bull that had been stolen from Emoru Joseph, a 60-year-old peasant of Agaya village, Agirigiroi parish in Soroti district.

During the ritualistic performance, the two biological sons of the complainant were affected, became unconscious and died at the scene.

The traditional healer reportedly told the relatives he was going to look for a herb that would help the two victims, Etonu Michael and Okello Levis aged 30 and 40 respectively, to regain consciousness. He however disappeared and when he was contacted on his phone number, he extorted an additional sh2m, which was mobilised and sent to him, and went into hiding.

The incident underscores the serious health and safety risks of consulting traditional healers and taking herbs from them.

Police said the suspect had no licence from the National Council of Traditional Healers and Herbalists Association (NACOTHA) and is now wanted on two counts of causing death, practising without a certificate and extortion of money.

“We warn all traditional medical practitioners and healers, that they will continue to be charged with causing death, if their practices lead to the death of a person in future. Several traditional healers describe themselves as master herbalists, who can cure several illnesses,” the Police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango, said during the Police weekly security briefing yesterday at their headquarters in Naguru.

The complainant who doubles as a father to the two deceased persons had reported the theft of his bull, at Odudui Police post, which was under investigation. The victims could have survived if he had followed the due process of the law.