Bushenyi teacher murdered over suspicion of practicing witchcraft
Oct 21, 2007
AT about 8:00pm on Monday, October 8, Akatuhwera Grace, 40, a Grade III teacher left Nyakinga Primary School for home to celebrate the independence holiday with her husband and children. <br>
By Chris Ahimbisibwe
AT about 8:00pm on Monday, October 8, Akatuhwera Grace, 40, a Grade III teacher left Nyakinga Primary School for home to celebrate the independence holiday with her husband and children.
A few meters from her home, she met a group of angry residents armed with sticks and stones, baying for her blood.
They had earlier attacked her residence and locked her husband inside their house before they proceeded to look for her.
Akatuhwera’s husband escaped and went into hiding. She pleaded with them not to harm her as she clutched onto her handbag but the blows had started raining from all sides.
Her children watched helplessly as their mother cried out for the mob to stop beating her. They did not stop until long after her last breath, and the children saw it all. Their father, Muhereza Enos, was still in hiding.
“She was coming from a bank and salon because she had Shs500000= in her bag so when the group started to rough her up, she told them not to tamper with her hair and that’s when the group started to clobber her up with sticks,†said a resident of the village who prefers anonymity, “but after beating her, her bag was untouched.â€
Seated in their compound with their grand mother, the four traumatized children will always miss care and love of their mother
“That’s where our mother was beaten to her death,†said one of the children Amumpeire Rita, 11, pointing at the place where their mother was killed.
Akatuhwera was killed because residents of the village suspected her of practicing witchcraft.
“The residents had spent some time suspecting Akatuhwera to have been practicing witchcraft,†said another resident. But her friend, Nabutono sparked off her brutal murder.
“It is alleged that Nabutono confessed that she was sent by Akatuhwera to go and administer witchcraft on a neighbor’s children and that’s where the group started to look for Akatuhwera†says Muhumuza Bernard, the Officer-in-Charge of Bushenyi district criminal investigations.
Following the incident, thirteen people including a LCI chairman Bagando Odomaro have been arrested for investigations.
Akatuhwera becomes the 59th person to be murdered in Bushenyi district since January 7, according to police records.
Asked what could be the cause of the increasing mob justice cases in the district, Muhumuza explaines that people are ignorant about the law others feel that it’s the quickest action they should take to solve their problems.
“When the majority of villagers agree that they should do some thing, they think that it’s the right thing not knowing that it’s against the law,†he says.
Muhumuza also reveals that the issue of lack of trust from concerned authorities has also caused problems.
“There is a problem of mistrust where by people think the authorities will not assist them, so they opt for mob justice,†he says.
He added that, “some times they say; “this one has gone to Nyamushekyera government prison for ten times, now what do we do? Let’s finish him.â€
He added that the majority of witch craft cases have been reported in Ruhinda County. During independence celebrations, the Resident District Commissioner, Sam Tibigweisa, said murder cases in the district are on increase with the majority resulting from land wrangles.
The highest murder cases were reported in the months of January where 10 people were murdered, 3 people were murdered in February and in May 8 were murdered.
In June, 7 people were murdered, July 9 were murdered, and in August 10 were murdered. September registered 6 murders and so far October has 2 registered murders.
Last year the murder cases registered were 87 and this year the number is at 59 with two months remaining for the year to end.
Muhumuza said that 75% of the murder cases the police is having are family murders (in families) with the cause centered on property sharing especially land.
“There is a syndrome of property inheritance here in the district especially among children who drop out from school where by they think that it’s a must they must get a share from parents’ property,†Muhumuza said.
Muhumuza appealed to political leaders at all levels to get involved in sensitizing parents and children about property issues.
AT about 8:00pm on Monday, October 8, Akatuhwera Grace, 40, a Grade III teacher left Nyakinga Primary School for home to celebrate the independence holiday with her husband and children.
A few meters from her home, she met a group of angry residents armed with sticks and stones, baying for her blood.
They had earlier attacked her residence and locked her husband inside their house before they proceeded to look for her.
Akatuhwera’s husband escaped and went into hiding. She pleaded with them not to harm her as she clutched onto her handbag but the blows had started raining from all sides.
Her children watched helplessly as their mother cried out for the mob to stop beating her. They did not stop until long after her last breath, and the children saw it all. Their father, Muhereza Enos, was still in hiding.
“She was coming from a bank and salon because she had Shs500000= in her bag so when the group started to rough her up, she told them not to tamper with her hair and that’s when the group started to clobber her up with sticks,†said a resident of the village who prefers anonymity, “but after beating her, her bag was untouched.â€
Seated in their compound with their grand mother, the four traumatized children will always miss care and love of their mother
“That’s where our mother was beaten to her death,†said one of the children Amumpeire Rita, 11, pointing at the place where their mother was killed.
Akatuhwera was killed because residents of the village suspected her of practicing witchcraft.
“The residents had spent some time suspecting Akatuhwera to have been practicing witchcraft,†said another resident. But her friend, Nabutono sparked off her brutal murder.
“It is alleged that Nabutono confessed that she was sent by Akatuhwera to go and administer witchcraft on a neighbor’s children and that’s where the group started to look for Akatuhwera†says Muhumuza Bernard, the Officer-in-Charge of Bushenyi district criminal investigations.
Following the incident, thirteen people including a LCI chairman Bagando Odomaro have been arrested for investigations.
Akatuhwera becomes the 59th person to be murdered in Bushenyi district since January 7, according to police records.
Asked what could be the cause of the increasing mob justice cases in the district, Muhumuza explaines that people are ignorant about the law others feel that it’s the quickest action they should take to solve their problems.
“When the majority of villagers agree that they should do some thing, they think that it’s the right thing not knowing that it’s against the law,†he says.
Muhumuza also reveals that the issue of lack of trust from concerned authorities has also caused problems.
“There is a problem of mistrust where by people think the authorities will not assist them, so they opt for mob justice,†he says.
He added that, “some times they say; “this one has gone to Nyamushekyera government prison for ten times, now what do we do? Let’s finish him.â€
He added that the majority of witch craft cases have been reported in Ruhinda County. During independence celebrations, the Resident District Commissioner, Sam Tibigweisa, said murder cases in the district are on increase with the majority resulting from land wrangles.
The highest murder cases were reported in the months of January where 10 people were murdered, 3 people were murdered in February and in May 8 were murdered.
In June, 7 people were murdered, July 9 were murdered, and in August 10 were murdered. September registered 6 murders and so far October has 2 registered murders.
Last year the murder cases registered were 87 and this year the number is at 59 with two months remaining for the year to end.
Muhumuza said that 75% of the murder cases the police is having are family murders (in families) with the cause centered on property sharing especially land.
“There is a syndrome of property inheritance here in the district especially among children who drop out from school where by they think that it’s a must they must get a share from parents’ property,†Muhumuza said.
Muhumuza appealed to political leaders at all levels to get involved in sensitizing parents and children about property issues.