An intriguing aspect of Ugandan society has come to light in a book by the late Dr. Martin Aliker: the prevalence of witchcraft beliefs, particularly within the realms of football and politics. According to accounts shared in the book, witchcraft has seeped into various aspects of Ugandan life, with stories of its influence ranging from the football field to the highest levels of government.
Today we’ve got a tale as bizarre as a goat herder claiming his chickens can predict the weather.
Uganda, the land of the Big Five, the Pearl of Africa, and apparently, the home of some serious mumbo jumbo in our beloved football league. Yes, you heard that right. It seems witchcraft is as common as a boda-boda in Kampala these days, with rumours swirling about a “witchcraft derby” happening right under our noses. I mean, who needs Messi or Ronaldo when you’ve got Harry Potter’s fan club on the field.
Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ve always thought football was a game of skill, tactics, and maybe a bit of luck thrown in for good measure. But little did I know, it’s also a battleground for black magic and voodoo vibes. Teams finding dead chickens with blood in the changing room? Standard operating procedure.
And just when you thought it couldn’t get any weirder, along comes the late Dr. Martin Aliker with his tales of a superstitious minister who brings good luck charms into cabinet meetings. I mean, talk about multitasking. Here we are, struggling to keep our coffee warm during those endless discussions, and this guy’s busy summoning spirits to keep him in the cabinet. Potions over policies!
But here’s the kicker: does witchcraft have a limit?
I mean, sure, winning the Ugandan league is great and all, but why stop there? Why not aim for the stars and shoot for AFCON glory? And don’t even get me started on our goalkeepers. Why settle for being the best in Uganda when you could be catching balls at Old Trafford and swimming in piles of shillings like Sudhir Ruparelia?
And what about our dear ministers? Why waste your magical portions on staying in the cabinet when you could be pulling the strings from behind the curtain? It’s like using a Ferrari to deliver groceries when you could be racing in the Grand Prix. Come on, people, aim higher!
Now, I know what you’re thinking: why haven’t our religious leaders stepped in to put a stop to all this evil circus? Well, it’s a mystery as deep as the Nile itself. With so many Ugandans believing in the power of witchcraft, you’d think our pastors and imams would be waving their wands and chanting incantations to fix our roads, schools, and hospitals. But alas, it seems they’re more interested in counting their sheep than casting out demons.
