'Witchdoctor' stabs colleague in bloody fight

PIC: Suspect Christopher Kyaligonza at Mpala police. (Credit: Julius Luwemba)

CRIME | RITUAL

A 29-year-old man said to be a witchdoctor has been detained at Mpala Police Station after reportedly stabbing another 'witchdoctor'.

The suspect is Christopher Kyaligonza and the victim is Matayo Atangwireho, aged 43.

They are both residents of Kavundira village, Nkumba zone in Katabi Town Council.

Kyaligonza is said to have beaten up and then stabbed Atangwireho during a fight.

Eyewitnesses said the two men started "rivaling and battling over spiritual powers" which spiralled out of control and turned bloody. During the impasse, Kyaligonza was apprently overcome by "spirits" and, according to one resident, "started acting mad".

He then reportedly started to threaten his colleague.

According to a statement recorded at police, Atangwireho claims that he tried to calm Kyaligonza down but that he was overpowered and ended up being beaten with a stick and stabbed with a spear in the left ear (pictured below).

Locals who witnessed the fight said that had it not been their intervention, Atangwireho could have been killed.

They talked of how they tied up Kyaligonza before notifying police who rushed to the scene and arrested him. Atangwireho was taken to a clinic for medical attention.

Job Ekwang, the acting officer in-charge at Mpala Police Station confirmed the arrest of Kyaligonza, saying he was charged with assault.

He added that the suspect, whose rented apartment was full of "juju" (fetishes) will first be taken for a mental check-up and once the results confirm he is of sound mind, he will be taken to court.

But if the results indicate otherwise, he will be taken to Butabika Hospital for rehabilitation.