High Court Judge Comfort Rosette Kania on January 15 remanded a witchdoctor and an art dealer over the alleged amputation of a 4-year-old boy’s hand in a suspected ritual sacrifice. The accused, 41-year-old witchdoctor Godfrey Ssekatawa from Busiika Village in Luweero District, and his 43-year-old accomplice, Ismael Ssebuggwawo, an art dealer in Lusaka Zone, Makindye Division in Kampala, face a charge of aggravated trafficking of a child.
Prosecution led by Isaiah Mwanamana informed the court that the offense occurred in February 2021 when, on the orders of Ssekatawa, Ssebugwawo cut off the right hand of Jessy Katandi for a ritual sacrifice to acquire wealth. After the gruesome act, Ssebuggwawo allegedly dumped the bleeding boy in a container, where neighbors later found him yelling in pain with his hand missing and a large cut on his neck.
The bleeding child was immediately rescued and rushed to Nsambya Hospital for medical attention. Ssebugwawo, the owner of the container where the boy was discovered, had mysteriously fled the scene. After a month-long search, he was arrested from Mpererwe, where he had been hiding.
During his detention at Katwe Police Station, Ssebugwawo led investigators to the hidden hand and revealed that the witchdoctor, Ssekatawa, had requested a child’s hand in exchange for wealth. The accused denied the charges in court, but the prosecution emphasized that investigations were complete.
The child’s father, Godfrey Ochwo, expressed his distress, stating that the incident has left his child traumatized. Meanwhile, witnesses were not present in court as they were allegedly informed about the case hearing late. The judge adjourned the case to January 29 for hearing and remanded the accused to Kitalya maximum-security prison.
