Kitebi attack: Hysteria or demoniac
Apr 12, 2011
NEVER before has there been a sharp split among educationists on the cause of mass hysteria in schools. Parents, pupils and teachers are divided on how to handle the mass hysteria which forced Kitebi Primary School to close.
By Brian Mayanja
and Juliet Lukwago
NEVER before has there been a sharp split among educationists on the cause of mass hysteria in schools. Parents, pupils and teachers are divided on how to handle the mass hysteria which forced Kitebi Primary School to close.
Desperate measures are being considered including seeking the intervention of witch doctors to cleanse the school of demons believed to have tormented the children. This will be the first time in Uganda’s history for a school to officially allow this kind of intervention. Scientifically it is known that hysteria is a contagious medical condition caused by mental stress, strain and anxiety.
Although the school was reopened last week, out of 1,200 of the enrolled pupils only a handful have reported back. In a survey done by New Vision at the school on the reporting day, the lower section had not more than 20 pupils.
History of hysteria
In 2008, invigilators and teachers were caught by surprise at a school in Masaka when over 130 pupils suddenly acted like they were possessed by demons. At the end, 21 of the pupils missed their Primary Leaving Examinations.
No sooner had the 21 entered the examination room, than they started dancing, shaking their heads and raising their hands.
Medical experts say what happened in this case including the recent one at Kitebi is called mass hysteria. Dr. David Basangwa, a consultant psychiatrist at Butabika Hospital, says mass hysteria is more common in schools and manifests in different symptoms.
“For instance the pupils’ may fail to walk or talk. They might develop a problem on one part of the body or even seem to have a vision problem,†Basangwa notes.
He says hysteria is a medical condition which is referred to as a conversion disorder. Psychologists argue that hysteria is contagious; when one gets it, others are affected.
In many cases a hysterical person loses control over his acts and emotions. This mental disorder is characterised by emotional outbursts, accompanied by unconsciousness.
Divine vs evil intervention
Religious leaders in the area and witch doctors disagreed on how to solve the problem.
“The problem would have been solved long ago but the setback is that after we have prayed for the possessed pupils, their parents take them to shrines,†Pastor Mark Kiyanja from Redeemed Church Kitebi says.
Pastor Martin Ssempa calls for his fellow spiritually anointed pastors to camp at the school for a week.
“We should organise a crusade and camp near the tree where the charms might have been concealed.â€
However Sylvia Namutebi (Maama Fiina), the chairperson of witch doctors blames the headmaster of the school for not implementing her instructions. “I visited the school last month and told Geofrey Ssenfuma the cause of the problem, and suggested the solution.
He told me he had to first consult the P.T.A members,†Namutebi explains. She adds that the school was supposed to perform some rituals like slaughtering a cow because the spirits were demanding blood. Namutebi notes that one of the teachers brought the charms but failed to fulfil their demands.
However, the medics insist that the problem is medical. Dr. Peter Bukenya, an administrator at Nagalama Hospital, says the situation at Kitebi Primary School can only be proved scientifically as hysteria, but not demonic attacks.
Dr. Gaston Byamugisha, a psychologist at Kyambogo University says students may have succumbed to fear after being told that the charms are concealed in the school compound.
“I reject the idea of bringing witch doctors, because they will complicate the issue by the way they diagnose it. Their dress code, words and methods may affect the pupils psychologically,†he notes.
Treatment
Hysteria has no particular treatment and cannot kill. However, Basangwa advises that victims should be isolated and a medical personnel should investigate to rule out other possible medical disorders.
After other medical disorders are ruled out, counseling of the affected person or group would follow.
YOUR VIEWS
Agnes Nayinza, teacher at Maganjo Primary School
The school administration should hire an experienced witch doctor to solve the crisis. Pastors and other religious leaders have failed.
A witch doctor will tell the country the cause of the problem. The problem is serious. It is not hysteria because once a pupil is possessed with evil spirits, he or she shouts and calls the teacher’s name.
Teopista Nakafeero
If it is demonic attacks, then the pastors should intervene as a group. Also counselling is needed. These pupils and their teachers are going through psychological trauma, so need help.
Yusuf Samanya, teacher at Kyengera Parent School
The school administration should hire witch doctors and also call pastors. This can’t be hysteria. Medics should accept that the situation at Kitebi Primary School is beyond their control.
How to respond
Do you think the incident at Kitebi Primary School is a case of hysteria or demonic attack? Send your views to Mwalimu, P.O.Box 9815, Kampala; Email: mwalimu@newvision.co.ug Or SMS: Type mwalimu [leave space], your views, name, contact then send to 8338
and Juliet Lukwago
NEVER before has there been a sharp split among educationists on the cause of mass hysteria in schools. Parents, pupils and teachers are divided on how to handle the mass hysteria which forced Kitebi Primary School to close.
Desperate measures are being considered including seeking the intervention of witch doctors to cleanse the school of demons believed to have tormented the children. This will be the first time in Uganda’s history for a school to officially allow this kind of intervention. Scientifically it is known that hysteria is a contagious medical condition caused by mental stress, strain and anxiety.
Although the school was reopened last week, out of 1,200 of the enrolled pupils only a handful have reported back. In a survey done by New Vision at the school on the reporting day, the lower section had not more than 20 pupils.
History of hysteria
In 2008, invigilators and teachers were caught by surprise at a school in Masaka when over 130 pupils suddenly acted like they were possessed by demons. At the end, 21 of the pupils missed their Primary Leaving Examinations.
No sooner had the 21 entered the examination room, than they started dancing, shaking their heads and raising their hands.
Medical experts say what happened in this case including the recent one at Kitebi is called mass hysteria. Dr. David Basangwa, a consultant psychiatrist at Butabika Hospital, says mass hysteria is more common in schools and manifests in different symptoms.
“For instance the pupils’ may fail to walk or talk. They might develop a problem on one part of the body or even seem to have a vision problem,†Basangwa notes.
He says hysteria is a medical condition which is referred to as a conversion disorder. Psychologists argue that hysteria is contagious; when one gets it, others are affected.
In many cases a hysterical person loses control over his acts and emotions. This mental disorder is characterised by emotional outbursts, accompanied by unconsciousness.
Divine vs evil intervention
Religious leaders in the area and witch doctors disagreed on how to solve the problem.
“The problem would have been solved long ago but the setback is that after we have prayed for the possessed pupils, their parents take them to shrines,†Pastor Mark Kiyanja from Redeemed Church Kitebi says.
Pastor Martin Ssempa calls for his fellow spiritually anointed pastors to camp at the school for a week.
“We should organise a crusade and camp near the tree where the charms might have been concealed.â€
However Sylvia Namutebi (Maama Fiina), the chairperson of witch doctors blames the headmaster of the school for not implementing her instructions. “I visited the school last month and told Geofrey Ssenfuma the cause of the problem, and suggested the solution.
He told me he had to first consult the P.T.A members,†Namutebi explains. She adds that the school was supposed to perform some rituals like slaughtering a cow because the spirits were demanding blood. Namutebi notes that one of the teachers brought the charms but failed to fulfil their demands.
However, the medics insist that the problem is medical. Dr. Peter Bukenya, an administrator at Nagalama Hospital, says the situation at Kitebi Primary School can only be proved scientifically as hysteria, but not demonic attacks.
Dr. Gaston Byamugisha, a psychologist at Kyambogo University says students may have succumbed to fear after being told that the charms are concealed in the school compound.
“I reject the idea of bringing witch doctors, because they will complicate the issue by the way they diagnose it. Their dress code, words and methods may affect the pupils psychologically,†he notes.
Treatment
Hysteria has no particular treatment and cannot kill. However, Basangwa advises that victims should be isolated and a medical personnel should investigate to rule out other possible medical disorders.
After other medical disorders are ruled out, counseling of the affected person or group would follow.
YOUR VIEWS
Agnes Nayinza, teacher at Maganjo Primary School
The school administration should hire an experienced witch doctor to solve the crisis. Pastors and other religious leaders have failed.
A witch doctor will tell the country the cause of the problem. The problem is serious. It is not hysteria because once a pupil is possessed with evil spirits, he or she shouts and calls the teacher’s name.
Teopista Nakafeero
If it is demonic attacks, then the pastors should intervene as a group. Also counselling is needed. These pupils and their teachers are going through psychological trauma, so need help.
Yusuf Samanya, teacher at Kyengera Parent School
The school administration should hire witch doctors and also call pastors. This can’t be hysteria. Medics should accept that the situation at Kitebi Primary School is beyond their control.
How to respond
Do you think the incident at Kitebi Primary School is a case of hysteria or demonic attack? Send your views to Mwalimu, P.O.Box 9815, Kampala; Email: mwalimu@newvision.co.ug Or SMS: Type mwalimu [leave space], your views, name, contact then send to 8338