Witchdoctor held over stolen baby

Aug 08, 2006

A mother of a two-month-old baby and a traditional healer have been arrested in a Kampala suburb over a stolen baby.

By Steven Candia

A mother of a two-month-old baby and a traditional healer have been arrested in a Kampala suburb over a stolen baby.

Rashida Nakawoya, 19, a mother of two and Ssalongo Sentumbwe Senoga (right) were arrested on Monday evening in Kalerwe, Mayinja zone after the deal went bad at a native doctor’s shrine.

The two were arrested by a security operative who was tipped off that a mob was about to lynch a woman at a witchdoctor’s shrine.

“They are here with me but I am going to hand them over to the regular police for further investigation, given the nature of the alleged crime,” the Violent Crime Crack Unit (VCCU) commander, David Magara, said.

The arrest came after Nakawoya, carrying her two-month-old baby, Saddam Hussein, walked into the compound of the native doctor with the two-year-old boy Musa Serwadda in tow, the Police said.

Serwadda’s parents Muhammed Kasuja and Mariam Nakimera turned up at the VCCU headquarters in Kireka, a city suburb, in the company of the boy’s grandparents Hamisi Jingo and Nuru Nabasirye and were happily reunited with their son.

The Police said Nakawoya went to Senoga’s shrine and called him outside.

But clients in the shrine, overheard their conversation and confronted them, prompting Senoga to raise an alarm, accusing Nakawoya of trying to sell him a stolen child.

A mob gathered instantly. Nakawoya was saved by the security operative who had to fire into the air to disperse the crowd.

Nakawoya, the Police said, stole Serwadda from a market in Nabukalu zone.

Nakawoya claimed she was working on the instructions of Senoga, an allegation Senoga vehemently denied.

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