Bad luck, evil spirit ‘cleansing’ claims two lives
A 45-year-old traditional healer was arrested on Wednesday and charged with culpable homicide after a concoction that supposedly cleanses people of bad luck and evil spirits claimed the lives of two of his clients.
According to the police, the incident took place between 09:00 and 14:00 when the suspect - a school cleaner from Kandjara village in the Ndiyona constituency - gave the concoction to six women at the same time.
“It's alleged that the suspect administered a concoction believed to be medicine to six women. It's further alleged that the suspect was approached by the victims at Kandjara village to be treated for bad luck and to take out evil spirits. The suspect then allegedly provided mixed, pounded traditional medicine,” a police report read.
The victims - who died at separate venues - were identified as Shiremo Josefine Namutenya (27) and Linyando Shikonga (30).
According to the preliminary police report, the two deceased developed stomach aches and collapsed.
Prior to their deaths, both victims complained about diarrhoea and were vomiting as well.
Suspect initially fled
Meanwhile, two of the four surviving women were rushed to a nearby clinic and later transferred to Nyangana Catholic Hospital where they were admitted.
The other two were also rushed to the Nyangana Catholic Hospital where they were treated and released.
Initially, the suspect fled the scene after he learnt that two of his clients had died. Hours later, he handed himself over at the Ndiyona Police Station where he is currently detained.
The victims’ remains are being kept at the Nyangana mortuary pending post-mortems. Police investigations into the matter continue.
16 dead
In the same constituency, 16 people died a week ago after they consumed a meal allegedly made from mahangu that was previously used for a traditional brew.
Upon falling sick, the family members were taken to the Nyangana Catholic Hospital where they presented signs of food poisoning including vomiting, convulsions, restlessness and loss of consciousness.
They will all be buried tomorrow, with government catering for the funeral expenses.
[email protected]
According to the police, the incident took place between 09:00 and 14:00 when the suspect - a school cleaner from Kandjara village in the Ndiyona constituency - gave the concoction to six women at the same time.
“It's alleged that the suspect administered a concoction believed to be medicine to six women. It's further alleged that the suspect was approached by the victims at Kandjara village to be treated for bad luck and to take out evil spirits. The suspect then allegedly provided mixed, pounded traditional medicine,” a police report read.
The victims - who died at separate venues - were identified as Shiremo Josefine Namutenya (27) and Linyando Shikonga (30).
According to the preliminary police report, the two deceased developed stomach aches and collapsed.
Prior to their deaths, both victims complained about diarrhoea and were vomiting as well.
Suspect initially fled
Meanwhile, two of the four surviving women were rushed to a nearby clinic and later transferred to Nyangana Catholic Hospital where they were admitted.
The other two were also rushed to the Nyangana Catholic Hospital where they were treated and released.
Initially, the suspect fled the scene after he learnt that two of his clients had died. Hours later, he handed himself over at the Ndiyona Police Station where he is currently detained.
The victims’ remains are being kept at the Nyangana mortuary pending post-mortems. Police investigations into the matter continue.
16 dead
In the same constituency, 16 people died a week ago after they consumed a meal allegedly made from mahangu that was previously used for a traditional brew.
Upon falling sick, the family members were taken to the Nyangana Catholic Hospital where they presented signs of food poisoning including vomiting, convulsions, restlessness and loss of consciousness.
They will all be buried tomorrow, with government catering for the funeral expenses.
[email protected]
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