RUBIRIZI – Residents of Rubirizi District have been urged to stop practicing witchcraft, visiting witch doctors and taking the law into their own hands following the killing of a 44-year-old woman who was accused of witchcraft.
The incident happened in Nkondo Village, Karagara in Ryeru Sub-County, after the family of the late Katushabe Oliver, 44, accused Mr. Muzuni Federico and his wife Katushabe Emelda of bewitching her until death.
Angry residents reportedly mobilized, stormed the home of the accused, destroying her crops and house.
Church leader Tinkamanyire John Baptist from Rugazi Catholic Parish, while leading the mass during the send-off ceremony of Katushabe Oliver yesterday, condemned the act.
He noted that no person dies without God knowing, and urged residents to return to God, stop going to witch doctors, and stop killing each other.
“Let us forgive one another and fight evil through prayers. Reject witchcraft accusations and put your trust in God to be your saviour,” he said.
He asked parents to change their mindset and take their children to school instead of wasting time on things that have no value.
According to Mr. Turinabo Evaristo, known as Muzei, the husband of the deceased, his wife started bleeding and complaining of chest pain. She was rushed to hospital but no sickness was found.
“What happened to my wife is being attributed to a land wrangle with a neighbour who kept threatening her,” he said.
The family said they sought treatment from several hospitals before turning to a traditional healer who allegedly attributed her illness to witchcraft.
Kiiza Paulino, the LC1 Chairperson for Nkondo Village, asked residents to embrace peace, unity and the rule of law and condemned the residents’ actions, reminding them against mob justice. He said police have started investigating the cause of the death and will release a report.
Meanwhile, Mr. Innocent Turyahebwa, LC3 Chairperson Ryeru Sub-County, condemned the act of mob justice and called for calm.
He urged residents to stop taking the law into their own hands and to always use government structures and the police to handle conflicts to end fights and wrangles in the area.
“It is wrong for people to kill others claiming they are witches. Those practicing witchcraft should repent and return to God,” he said.
He pledged to bring security agencies to Karagara to ensure wrangles and violence end so that people can live in peace, and asked residents to go to work and stop wasting time on useless things. He promised that security will be deployed to restore peace in the area.
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Reported By: By Tugume Muzafaru – Senior Reporter, Rubirizi
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