By Joyce Namutebi and Catherine Bekunda

SOME senior government officials are involved in questionable traditional practices, which may lead to escalation of human sacrifice, the internal affairs minister has said.

“There are increasing numbers of people, including the elite and senior government officials, who believe and practice traditional rituals,” Kirunda Kivejinja said.

His revelation was contained in a statement circulated in Parliament on “incidents related to suspected human sacrifice and trafficking in persons.”

But he did not name the officers. The minister explained that the absence of a national policy on the operations of traditional leaders and herbalists was hampering the fight against the vice.

He said in January, a murder case linked to human sacrifice was registered, while seven deaths were recorded in February.

In the same month, 18 persons were reported missing. Five of them have been found, he said.

In January, 15 people were arrested over involvement in human sacrifice.

Three of them have been taken to court, Kivejinja said.

Last month, the minister explained that eight of the 85 persons who were reported missing had been found and that 13 suspects were arrested.

Twelve of them have been charged with various offences, Kivejinja explained.

He noted that Kampala recorded the most cases of human sacrifice, suspected kidnaps and human trafficking in January and February.

The Government, Kivejinja said, had established an anti-human sacrifice/trafficking task team to assist the police with investigations.

He also said plans were underway to register traditional herbalists for easy monitoring.