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Namutumba police hunt for witchdoctor suspected of exhuming body

A police sniffer dog at the home of Simon Musana, a witchdoctor suspected to have exhumed the late Kozara Mukama. Photo | Ronald Seebe

What you need to know:

  • The family suspects that Musana, a resident of Isita-Izimba village in Mazuba Sub County, exhumed the body to use the skull in his shrine to attract more clients

Police in Namutumba District have launched a manhunt for a 28-year-old witch doctor, Simon Musana, accused of exhuming the body of a deceased man, Kozara Mukama, who was buried in 2020.

According to Kosima Ndifuna, a son of the deceased, the incident occurred over the weekend. "I got the news about the exhumation of my father's grave through my sister, who had gone to uproot cassava and sweep the graveyard on Sunday morning," Ndifuna said. "When I informed my elder brother, we rushed to the graveyard, but we were shocked to find the remains of our late father with a skull missing."

The family suspects that Musana, a resident of Isita-Izimba village in Mazuba Sub County, exhumed the body to use the skull in his shrine to attract more clients. "My father was a witch doctor, and the witch doctors wanted his skull to be used in shrines to get more clients," said Augustine Ngobi, the elder son of the deceased.

This is not the first incident of its kind in the area. Locals reported that two bodies were stolen from separate graves in the same village within two months. To address the issue, residents contributed Shs300,000 to bring a police sniffer dog from Iganga district to help arrest those suspected of exhuming human bodies.

The police sniffer dog was taken to the graveyard where Mukama was buried, and it led the police to Musana's home, where it sat at the entrance of his door. However, Musana was not found.

Locals warned Musana against exhuming dead bodies, but he allegedly ignored their warnings. "We have warned him twice, the first time was last year in December 2024 when he was suspected to possess a human skull, but he did not pay attention," said an angry local resident.

Isaac Tumwebaze, the Youth Chairperson of Isita parish, condemned the act, saying, "There is no riches in exhuming dead bodies apart from curses only." He blamed the youth for not wanting to work and instead using human remains to acquire healing powers and money.

The Chairperson of Mukoge village, Patrick Kintu, explained that witch doctors have taken it as a business to exhume dead bodies for riches, saying such practices are now common in the area. "Since December last year, 2024, almost every month we get news about the exhumation of dead bodies, which is putting locals in a panic," he said.

Robert Nabongho, the Vice Chairperson of Mazuba Sub County, confirmed that most homesteads in the area have shrines, and witch doctors are using human skulls to win more clients. He revealed that a similar incident occurred last year, where a witch doctor sacrificed a young boy, and the head was discovered in one of the shrines.

Samson Mukulu, the LC1 chairperson of Isita-Izimba village, warned witch doctors to stop exhuming human bodies, saying, "The law is very clear on those who disturb the peace of the deceased. Deceased persons should be left to rest in peace."

Isabirye Ahammad, the Chairperson of Traditional Healers in Namutumba district, appealed to the police to expedite the process of arresting Musana. "My appeal goes to Uganda police to speed up the search to see that Musana is brought to book. Witchcraft does not mean sacrificing and exhuming dead bodies," he said.

Jene Namukuve, the Community Liaison Officer for Namutumba, confirmed that the police received reports about the exhumation of Mukama's body over the weekend. "Residents asked us to get a police sniffer dog to help in arresting those they suspect to be behind the exhumation of dead bodies. The police sniffer dog came and scented, and sat at the entrance of the suspect, but Musana and his family members were not around," she said.

Namukuve added that Musana will be charged with disturbing the peace of the deceased once arrested.