Shock as police recover human remains at Luweero shrines

Residents of Butiikwa Village in Kikyusa Sub-County, Luweero District have torched nine shrines belonging to a suspected traditional healer after police recovered a mutilated human body and hundreds of suspected human bones from eight shallow graves at the his shrine.

The angry residents stormed the shrines belonging to Mr Armstrong Nsubuga, a traditional healer at Butiikwa Village on Friday in search of one of their colleague identified as Moses Wobusobozi.
Wobusobozi, 25, is suspected to have disappeared on his way to a community water dam on January 28 and residents were shocked to find blood stained clothes and fresh human body parts including a human leg hidden in one of the shrines.

The residents assisted by the police later discovered a mutilated human body buried in a shallow grave behind one of the shrines. However, the fresh body was not of Wobusobozi who is still missing.
Savannah region police spokesperson, Mr Paul Kangave on Saturday confirmed the arrest of Nsubuga.
“A team of police pathologists are expected in Luweero this weekend to help in the ongoing exercise where many suspected human bones have been recovered from the graves scattered around the shrines belonging to the suspected traditional healer,” he said.

He said the mutilated body has since been taken to Kampala City Mortuary for autopsy.
“We are not sure of the other missing body parts although the arrested suspect confessed that the human liver and private parts were removed as part of the rituals conducted for client,” Mr Kangave added.
He condemned residents for torching the shrines before the police could make a thorough search for more evidence against the suspect.
Police have tentatively preferred a murder charge against Nsubuga as investigations continue.

“We appeal to the public to volunteer more information regarding the where about of many suspects who have gone into hiding but have been connected to the activities at the shrines in Butiikwa. It is unfortunate that such activities have been ongoing under the guise of traditional healing. We are told that many people from various parts of the country have been visiting that shrine,” Mr Bosco Otim, the Savannah Region Police Commander said.
Mr Joseph Kabanda, one of the residents claimed that they became suspicious after getting information that Wobusobozi disappeared from the area near this shrine.

“It is also reported that Wobusobozi often fetched water for the traditional healer and could be paid for the services. Wobusobozi often went to the water dam at about 4am to avoid the long queue in the early hours of the day. When we confronted Nsubuga to search his shrines, he put up a strong resistance but we forcefully stormed the shrines. What we discovered at the shrines was shocking. The human body parts including the intestines and the left leg. We believe he knows the whereabouts of the missing youth,” Kabanda told the Daily Monitor.
Last year, Luweero District chairperson, Mr Ronald Ndawula called for regulation of activities of traditional healers, accusing many of duping their gullible cleints.

Mr Ndawula revealed that a big number of residents in the area spend most of their time visiting shrines and at the shrines, they are forced to part with their hard-earned money and domestic animals, among other valuables, in the name of pleasing their gods.

In March last year Police recovered a headless human body dumped at Kalongo Miti Cell, Kizito Zone in Luweero Town Council.
In the last three years, police in Luweero and neighboring Kayunga District have recorded several cases involving traditional healers who have raped women and extorted money from unsuspecting clients under the guise of exorcising evil spirits from their bodies.
Last September, police and military intelligence operatives arrested five traditional healers and recovered five human bodies from a shrine in Kisoga Village, Nazigo Sub-county, Kayunga District. The suspects now on remand in Luzira prison, are facing murder charges.
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