Witchcraft, land disputes escalate murder in Lango
Oct 27, 2010
IT was just like any other day. After tending to his garden on August 14, Kuranimo Otemo was relaxing on his verandah weaving a mat, when his clansmen arrived.
By Patrick Okino
IT was just like any other day. After tending to his garden on August 14, Kuranimo Otemo was relaxing on his verandah weaving a mat, when his clansmen arrived.
In 2004, the clan members had banished the 60-year-old Otemo from their village of Adyang in Omoro sub-county, Alebtong district, accusing him of causing death to his kinsmen using witchcraft. Otemo migrated to Gwengabara village, Boroboro parish in Lira district, 70km away, where he lived peacefully.
Otemo’s visitors had brought a simple message. A clan meeting had been called and everybody was expected to attend. Suspicious of the invite, Otemo reportedly resisted. However, he was overpowered by the youthful emissary who reportedly dragged him to the nearby Angwet-Angwet police post before proceeding to Oora-Aora trading centre, the venue of the meeting.
Here, the charged clan members reportedly descended on Otemo and beat him to death, accusing him of using his son, Christopher Opio, to kill people.
Sam Alweka, the officer in-charge of Angwet-Angwet police post confirmed that the group passed by the Police station but he did not know Otemo would be lynched.
Otemo is just one of the many victims of the escalating mob killings that have rocked Lango sub-region over accusations of witchcraft. Seven people were killed between July and September, according to Henry Alyanga, the central north regional police spokesman. Police records show the victims were mostly elderly men and women and the suspects were close relatives.
Police records show that a general inquiry file SD480909/2010 was opened in connection to Otemo’s murder and seven suspects were arrested. They included John Peter Mollo, Sam Mollo, James Obiti, Ocaka Delogom, Cedonia Ecel, Dick Okullo and Peter Okello, who allegedly commanded the gang that dragged Otemo from his home. They were, however, released for lack of evidence.
On August 11, Michael Ojok, 70, of Akwor in Dokolo district, was reportedly summoned by the clan and beaten to death after he allegedly confessed to practising witchcraft.
Four suspects — David Okello, 38; Denis Otima, 35; Jimmy Okello, 22; and Joel Okello, 25; were arrested and are facing murder charges under case CRB 613/2010 before Koroto magistrate’s court. One of the suspects is still on the run.
Another similar case occurred in Barr sub-county, Lira, where unknown assailants on August 2, shot dead William Okello, 65, a resident of Apii-Kongo village.
Lily Ayugi, George Acar, Martin Ogwal, Lameck Otiti, Susan Akullo, Esther Apili and Charles Obira were arrested over the incident, but later set free due to lack of evidence.
Police records show the other victims murdered over allegations of witchcraft include: Pilumina Akullo, 70 (August 6); Kilara Oryang, 60 (August 19); Mary Joyce Atoke, 65 (June 29); and Constantina Akullo, 80, who was burnt to death in her hut on August 5.
The Police blame the escalating murder cases on ignorance and primitive beliefs. “Even if a person dies of natural causes, they still say it was witchcraft,†Alyanga says.
He urges health experts to carry out massive sensitisation campaigns to help change people’s perceptions.
Land disputes are also fuelling violence in the region, the Police said. The latest incident was in Angetta parish in Omoro, where Maratino Otwal, 67; and Charles Omara, 48; were hacked and seriously injured in a land row. Tension is also brewing in Lamincwida village in Pader where similar disputes are brewing among the Langi and the Acholi.
Tom Okello, a community liaison police officer, says land disputes, witchcraft, ignorance of the law and drunkenness are the major causes of death among IDP returnees.
Others speak on witchcraft
Dr. Vincent Owiny, the Oyam district director of health services, says since there is no scientific explanation for witchcraft, its existence is questionable.
“In Lango, if a person contracts a strange disease and no medical explanation is given, they assume it is witchcraft,†Owiny says. “In modern medicine, you cannot say somebody is bewitched except by poisoning,†Owiny adds.
Cultural and religious leaders say clan chiefs, especially those in the rural areas, are promoting jungle laws on innocent people.
“According to the Bible, there is nothing that kills if an external matter does not enter one’s body and cause harm,†Alfred Adeka, a Lango Cultural Foundation official notes.
The role of clan leaders, Adeka says, is to iron out civil matters and refer everything of a criminal nature to the Police. He adds that young people are accusing the elderly of witchcraft because they are interested in grabbing their land and property.
Tom Akona, the clan secretary for Okarowok Wibyeacel, says whenever a person is accused of practising witchcraft, he is banished after a clan meeting.
Vincent Otaka, a Lira Municipal Council official, says witchcraft is simply psychological. “It is HIV/AIDS killing people in the villages, not witchcraft,†he says.
Rev. Alfonse Augustine Otim of Okwang Church of Uganda says although he believes witchcraft exists, it is wrong to kill the suspects. “God wants sinners to repent and abandon their sins.â€
IT was just like any other day. After tending to his garden on August 14, Kuranimo Otemo was relaxing on his verandah weaving a mat, when his clansmen arrived.
In 2004, the clan members had banished the 60-year-old Otemo from their village of Adyang in Omoro sub-county, Alebtong district, accusing him of causing death to his kinsmen using witchcraft. Otemo migrated to Gwengabara village, Boroboro parish in Lira district, 70km away, where he lived peacefully.
Otemo’s visitors had brought a simple message. A clan meeting had been called and everybody was expected to attend. Suspicious of the invite, Otemo reportedly resisted. However, he was overpowered by the youthful emissary who reportedly dragged him to the nearby Angwet-Angwet police post before proceeding to Oora-Aora trading centre, the venue of the meeting.
Here, the charged clan members reportedly descended on Otemo and beat him to death, accusing him of using his son, Christopher Opio, to kill people.
Sam Alweka, the officer in-charge of Angwet-Angwet police post confirmed that the group passed by the Police station but he did not know Otemo would be lynched.
Otemo is just one of the many victims of the escalating mob killings that have rocked Lango sub-region over accusations of witchcraft. Seven people were killed between July and September, according to Henry Alyanga, the central north regional police spokesman. Police records show the victims were mostly elderly men and women and the suspects were close relatives.
Police records show that a general inquiry file SD480909/2010 was opened in connection to Otemo’s murder and seven suspects were arrested. They included John Peter Mollo, Sam Mollo, James Obiti, Ocaka Delogom, Cedonia Ecel, Dick Okullo and Peter Okello, who allegedly commanded the gang that dragged Otemo from his home. They were, however, released for lack of evidence.
On August 11, Michael Ojok, 70, of Akwor in Dokolo district, was reportedly summoned by the clan and beaten to death after he allegedly confessed to practising witchcraft.
Four suspects — David Okello, 38; Denis Otima, 35; Jimmy Okello, 22; and Joel Okello, 25; were arrested and are facing murder charges under case CRB 613/2010 before Koroto magistrate’s court. One of the suspects is still on the run.
Another similar case occurred in Barr sub-county, Lira, where unknown assailants on August 2, shot dead William Okello, 65, a resident of Apii-Kongo village.
Lily Ayugi, George Acar, Martin Ogwal, Lameck Otiti, Susan Akullo, Esther Apili and Charles Obira were arrested over the incident, but later set free due to lack of evidence.
Police records show the other victims murdered over allegations of witchcraft include: Pilumina Akullo, 70 (August 6); Kilara Oryang, 60 (August 19); Mary Joyce Atoke, 65 (June 29); and Constantina Akullo, 80, who was burnt to death in her hut on August 5.
The Police blame the escalating murder cases on ignorance and primitive beliefs. “Even if a person dies of natural causes, they still say it was witchcraft,†Alyanga says.
He urges health experts to carry out massive sensitisation campaigns to help change people’s perceptions.
Land disputes are also fuelling violence in the region, the Police said. The latest incident was in Angetta parish in Omoro, where Maratino Otwal, 67; and Charles Omara, 48; were hacked and seriously injured in a land row. Tension is also brewing in Lamincwida village in Pader where similar disputes are brewing among the Langi and the Acholi.
Tom Okello, a community liaison police officer, says land disputes, witchcraft, ignorance of the law and drunkenness are the major causes of death among IDP returnees.
Others speak on witchcraft
Dr. Vincent Owiny, the Oyam district director of health services, says since there is no scientific explanation for witchcraft, its existence is questionable.
“In Lango, if a person contracts a strange disease and no medical explanation is given, they assume it is witchcraft,†Owiny says. “In modern medicine, you cannot say somebody is bewitched except by poisoning,†Owiny adds.
Cultural and religious leaders say clan chiefs, especially those in the rural areas, are promoting jungle laws on innocent people.
“According to the Bible, there is nothing that kills if an external matter does not enter one’s body and cause harm,†Alfred Adeka, a Lango Cultural Foundation official notes.
The role of clan leaders, Adeka says, is to iron out civil matters and refer everything of a criminal nature to the Police. He adds that young people are accusing the elderly of witchcraft because they are interested in grabbing their land and property.
Tom Akona, the clan secretary for Okarowok Wibyeacel, says whenever a person is accused of practising witchcraft, he is banished after a clan meeting.
Vincent Otaka, a Lira Municipal Council official, says witchcraft is simply psychological. “It is HIV/AIDS killing people in the villages, not witchcraft,†he says.
Rev. Alfonse Augustine Otim of Okwang Church of Uganda says although he believes witchcraft exists, it is wrong to kill the suspects. “God wants sinners to repent and abandon their sins.â€