Govt proposes council to regulate traditional healers, herbalists

By Paul Kiwuuwa

The ministry of health is proposing to table a Bill before Parliament to establish a council that will regulate the services of traditional healers and herbalists.

Health state minister for primary health care Sarah Opendi on Monday presented the proposal before the Parliament committee gender and labor and social development.

The proposal is contained in the Indigenous and Complementary Medicine Bill 2014 with an objective to define indigenous and complementary medicine practice in relation to modern medicine.

The Bill also seeks to provide for registration of practitioners and practices of indigenous and complementary medicines.

“There shall be a council to be known as the National Council of indigenous and Complementary Medicine Practitioners to curb the rampant child sacrifice in the country.” Opendi said

She appeared before the parliament committee chaired by Margate Komuhangi to give her views on the Bill, and provide a solution of what the ministry of health is proposing to regulate the services of traditional healers and herbalists in relation to child sacrifice and the rampant increase of ritual murders in the country.

Opendi explained the council shall consist of two representatives of the traditional Healers Association, the commissioner clinical services from the ministry of health.

The objective of the council is promote, control and regulate the practitioners of indigenous and complementary medicine in Uganda”.

She added the director of research, natural chemotherapeutical research institute from the ministry of health, shall represent the committee.

She pointed out the council will also institute disciplinary actions against indigenous and complimentary medical practitioners for professional misconduct and unethical behaviors

She said, “The council shall ensure registering, issue license and monitor the activities of indigenous, of herbalists and traditional healers to rid of the genuine ones from the quacks.”

She revealed that MPs are to start scrutinizing the Indigenous and Complementary Medicine Bill 2014, will be tabled before parliament for scrutiny.”

If enacted into a law it shall regulate the services of herbalists and traditional healers as a way of curbing ritual murders.” Opendi said.

The Bill proposes that “If a traditional healer operates without proper registration, provides false information concerning the practice, they commit an offence and are liable to conviction of a fine not exceeding sh960,000 or imprisonment not exceeding two years or both.”

The Bill proposes the trial may order the closure of the premises of the practices on such conditions as deems fit.”

However the Bill does not clarify on the disciplinary actions and penalties against one found guilty of causing ritual sacrifices

She however explained that the penalties are subject to amendments as Parliament scrutinizes the Bill.

Komuhangi said, “Lack of a punitive law to regulate the roles and works of the herbalists and traditional healers has escalated the vice."

She cited the Tanzanian government which suspended herbalists and traditional healers until a policy was put in place.

Last week the leader of traditional healers in Uganda, Sylvia Namutebi also known as Maama Fina under her organization ‘Obuwangwa n’eddagala lyaffe’ appeared before the Committee to answer queries relating to child sacrifice and the rampant increase of ritual murders in the country.

Namutebi said the current Witchcraft Act lumps them together with witches, yet their work is different in nature.

“The cases of child sacrifice have been tagged to traditional healers on several occasions but our practice does not allow us to spill human blood but animal sacrifice,” Namutebi said.

The Committee also quizzed the acting Executive Director of the ‘Uganda Communications Commission’ (UCC), Jonas Muhoozi for allowing radio and TV stations to publicize witchdoctors contrary to UCC Act.

Muhoozi told the committee that they lack technical support and equipment to monitor over 300 radios across the country.