These stories are excerpts of a full report on child
sacrifice in Uganda by the Jubilee Campaign and Kyampisi Childcare Ministries
which can be accessed here: http://www.jubileecampaign.co.uk/child-sacrifice-report
Mile 4: SHAFIC, M.; Age 9; Male: Parents: Undisclosed: Village: Kisalosal,
Kawempe, Kampala. On December 28th,
2008, Shafic was abducted by Mugambwa Paul and taken to the shrine of Semisambwa
of Bombe Zone, Kirinya, Mukono District.
On arrival to the shrine, Shafic was rejected by Semisambwa’s wife,
Nanteza Harriet because he was circumcised, thus deemed “Unfit” for sacrifice. All 3 suspects were arrested and charged with
kidnapping with intent to murder. In March
of 2011, all 3 were sentenced to prison for 15yrs each.
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| George in 2009 during his return visit to Hopeward |
Mile 5: GEORGE, M.; Age 3; Male; Parents: Father, Mr. Wanyama; Village: Namawombe,
in Iganga District. Date of attack: February
15th, 2009. “On 15th February
2009 Mukisa’s mother and father attended a funeral service; his brother was
playing football, leaving Mukisa unsupervised at home. Otema, a local
witch-doctor, and family friend, visited the home and enticed Mukisa to go to
the village shops with him, promising him sweets. As many a child would, when
offered gifts by a trusted elder, Mukisa accepted the witch doctor’s invitation
and accompanied him on an excursion. Otema had no intention of buying sweets
for the child. Instead, he took Mukisa to the bush where Otema grabbed and held
Mukisa’s legs before castrating him with a knife. The attack was made, without anesthetic, and
no warning. The witch-doctor then abandoned George and took off” (Child
Sacrifice Report, 2011). George’s
parents found in a bush near the witchdoctors' residence with his penis and
testicles cut off and rushed him to a hospital.
George has had multiple surgeries and skin grafts and without expensive
hormone treatments, he will suffer the long term consequences of castration
such as kyphosis and gynecomastia (abnormal enlargement of breasts). Olebati John was arrested and taken to court
for kidnap with intent to murder.
However, he was released on court bail. No hearing date had been set at
the time of the report in 2011. When a
reporter asked George about what should happen to Otema, his reply was powerful
and simple, “He should be killed.”
Mile 6: ALLAN, S.; Age: 7; Male; SURVIVOR: Allan was attacked on his way home from
school with his friends on 19th October 2009. He was kidnapped and taken to a
witch-doctor’s shrine. The 3 people involved in his abduction were a local
witch-doctor named Awali, his brother Abass and another man named Paul. At the
shrine Allan was cut with a machete on his neck and across his shoulders. He
was then struck in the head with the machete and his skull was sliced open.
After Allan lost consciousness, the witch-doctor proceeded to crush one of Allan’s
testicles and castrated him. Allan was then dumped in the bush where he was
later discovered, unconscious, in a pool of blood. Against the odds, Allan survived the brutal. After his mutilated body was discovered,
Allan was rushed to Kayunga Hospital, and then transferred to Mulago Hospital,
where he underwent surgery to repair the split in his skull. 3 years after the
attack, Allan recovered the full use of his left leg but not his arm, and a
scan in May 2011 revealed that he had an intercerebral lesion and possible
haematoma. These physical injuries are long term and his castration will lead
to further developmental problems in the future, such as kyphosis, the gradual
decrease in bone density and gynecomastia.
Allan recognized the men who attacked him and has identified them to the
police and to Chris Rogers and the BBC investigative team in 2011. A case is
pending, and Jubilee Campaign and Kyampisi Childcare Ministries intend to help
to take this case forward.
I cannot imagine the multiple challenges these three children and their families will have to face. The scars on the bodies (for Allan and George) are a constant reminder of the brutal encounter with evil. We can do so much more to support these families and prevent future attacks on children. If you are a Ugandan who lives in Kyampisi, please seek out this organization that is already reaching out to these victims and lend your support/voice and resources. We can educate our communities: e.g. pierced ears and circumcision can easily deter witchdoctors from kidnapping a child as was the case for SHAFIC. Join me as we silently pay tribute to SHAFIC, GEORGE, and ALLAN on miles 4, 5 and 6 of Rose's Journey in Dallas October 6th, 2012.
http://narrowroadintl.org/Narrow_Road__Roses_Journey.html
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