Sub-Saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africa is the area and regions of the continent of Africa that lie south of the Sahara. These include Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, and West Africa. Geopolitically, in addition to the list of sovereign states and ...

, "the practice of

ritual killing A ritual is a repeated, structured sequence of actions or behaviors that alters the internal or external state of an individual, group, or environment, regardless of conscious understanding, emotional context, or symbolic meaning. Traditionally ...

and

human sacrifice Human sacrifice is the act of killing one or more humans as part of a ritual, which is usually intended to please or appease deity, gods, a human ruler, public or jurisdictional demands for justice by capital punishment, an authoritative/prie ...

" continues to take place despite the illegality. In the 21st century,

Uganda Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the ...

Mozambique Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique, is a country located in Southeast Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Eswatini and South Afr ...

, and

Mali Mali, officially the Republic of Mali, is a landlocked country in West Africa. It is the List of African countries by area, eighth-largest country in Africa, with an area of over . The country is bordered to the north by Algeria, to the east b ...

, have practices documented in media reports.

Background and context

Issue

Rural districts near

Kampala Kampala (, ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Uganda. The city proper has a population of 1,875,834 (2024) and is divided into the five political divisions of Kampala Central Division, Kampala, Kawempe Division, Kawempe, Makindy ...

, Uganda's capital, have been badly affected by kidnappings of vulnerable people, children in particular, for sacrificial purposes. It is a modern phenomenon that purports to be part of the country's old custom, through the use of traditional medicine, which roughly 80% of people rely on. In exposed communities, roadside posters, workshops, and alert systems have been erected to warn children and their families of the danger posed by

witch doctor A witch doctor (also spelled witch-doctor), or witchcraft doctor, is a kind of magical healer who treats ailments believed to be caused by witchcraft. The term is often misunderstood, and they could more accurately be called "anti-witch doctors ...

s abducting for the purpose of child sacrifice.Nkimba, K. (2015)
"Impact Stories: Testimonies of Change CAACS Project"
/ref>

Motive

Witch Witchcraft is the use of magic by a person called a witch. Traditionally, "witchcraft" means the use of magic to inflict supernatural harm or misfortune on others, and this remains the most common and widespread meaning. According to ''Enc ...

doctors, who also identify as traditional healers, will consult with mythical spirits for anyone who can pay their fee. The spirits are believed to communicate through them, the kind of sacrifice for appeasement that they require. Often these sacrifices are chickens or goats, but when such sacrifices fail to make the client prosper instantly, 'the spirits' are believed to demand human sacrifices.Rogers, C (October 11, 2011)
"Where child sacrifice is a business"
''BBC News''.

Causes

Children are often victims of sacrifice for various reasons, the most common being they are relatively easy to abduct. As they are far more vulnerable than adults, children are more easily lured in or unable to fight back. Another reason children are abducted is that spiritually they are seen as 'purer'; a sacrifice that is "pure" or "unblemished" is believed to bring better results.Smitheram, E. (March 4, 2014)
"How one charity is working to prevent child sacrifice in Uganda"
''The Guardian''.Kawaawa-Mafigiri, D., & Walakira, E. (2009)
"Child Abuse and Neglect in Uganda"
(p. 167). If a child has been circumcised, scarred or has had their ears pricked, this represents disfigurement or impurity, and they may be spared from sacrifice. Some parents have marked their children in these ways to protect them. In other cases, children are given to witch doctors by relatives out of desperation for money. A child's life is worth a high price, and it provides instant money for struggling families. Another cause for children being abducted is the belief that children represent new growing life and offering them as a sacrifice will bring prosperity and growth to the one procuring the sacrifice.

Child sacrifice

Generally, a witchdoctor will try other methods first to bring about change of a person's misfortunes or desires using herbal remedies or animal sacrifices.KidsRights Foundation. (2014)
"No Small Sacrifice Child Sacrifice in Uganda, in a global context of cultural violence"
When change is not successful, resorting to child sacrifice is proposed because it is believed to be the most powerful. When a child is sacrificed, the witch doctor and his accomplices will generally undertake the whole process.Jubilee Campaign and Kyampisi Childcare Ministries. (2011
"Child Sacrifice in Uganda – report"
/ref> This includes: the witch-hunt, the abduction, followed by the removal of certain body parts, the making of a potion and lastly if required the discarding of the child's body. One type of sacrifice is the removal of blood, which is then used in medicines or mixed with herbs. It will be used in the place where success, healing or wealth is desired. In other cases, a child is buried under a building foundation, either dead or alive, or only their hands, feet and genitals to bring good luck to the new building.

Survivors

Children that survive are often left with traumatizing consequences for the rest of their lives. Most commonly survivors are left with large scars across their bodies; head and neck in particular. Genital mutilation is also a common occurrence for those that experience this ordeal, leading to urinary issues and distorted puberty development. The psychological damage to children affects their entire development; victims can struggle to develop ‘normal’ relationships after such an attack. Families are also affected as parents often bear the financial burden of covering short-term or long-term treatment.

Dynamics

Desire for wealth

A study of the Ugandan context shows great disparity between the rich elite and the average Ugandan who struggles to make ends meet. It is almost impossible for someone born in a poor family to climb up on the social ladder. The gap between the rich and the poor combined with discontent with the political status quo, endemic corruption and general feeling that the country has lost direction breeds a lot of discontent and frustration. It is in such an environment that the witchdoctors thrive, promising desperate people a miraculous way to bridge the gap from have-not to have, from failure to success and from poverty to wealth.Whewell, T (January 7, 2010)
"A BBC investigation into human sacrifice in Uganda"
''Newsnight''. BBC. The small elite who gained wealth in a relatively short time during Uganda's economic boom in the early 21st century is an example promoted by witchdoctors for their successful profession. They claim that they have aided many of the nouveau riche to gain their wealth. According to the head of the country's Anti-Human Sacrifice Taskforce, child sacrifice is directly linked to rising levels of development and prosperity, and an increasing belief that witchcraft can help people get rich quickly. It is thought that child sacrifice increases the power of a witch doctor's magic because it makes the charms, amulets or talismans that are given to clients stronger. For this reason, witch doctors stay in practice, along with great financial benefit.Angela, P. (January 16, 2010)
"Uganda Child Sacrifice"
Interview by T. Whewell. ''In Our World'' documentary. ''BBC News''.

Witchdoctors and traditional healers

All witchdoctors identify as traditional healers but not all traditional healers are witchdoctors and most do not perform child sacrifice.Jubilee Campaign and Kyampisi Childcare Ministries. (201
"Child Sacrifice in Uganda – report"
/ref> This identification has caused witchcraft to be associated with the healing practices of the indigenous culture, generating a rise in fascination with witchcraft. This has resulted in a damaged reputation of those traditional healers and herbalists who do not use human flesh but are still blamed for these crimes.

Politicians seeking fortune

There is an increased risk of child sacrifice and increased work for witchdoctors around the elections. This is because high-profile Ugandans have bought into the practice by being convinced they need to sacrifice a child to win a seat as an MP.

Case studies

Survivor

BBC News BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...

investigated a seven-year-old boy called Allan Ssembatya.Ssembatya, A. (January 16, 2010)
"Uganda Child Sacrifice"
Interview by T. Whewell. In ''Our World'' documentary. BBC News. He was attacked by a local witchdoctor and two acquaintances on his way home from school while walking with friends. In the witchdoctor's shrine he was struck on the neck, across the shoulders, and in the head with a machete. One of his testicles was removed and he was left for dead in a bush; he survived, but was in a coma for a month. The local witchdoctor admitted to this but the case is still pending due to slow investigation and allegations of corruption. Allan's family had to move homes and jobs to get through the ordeal and there are still adverse effects to this day.

Killed victim

Steven (Emmanuel) Kironde was killed at the age of six in 2009. He was in the care of his grandmother, who left the family home briefly for an errand, when he was abducted. His body was found the next morning decapitated behind the house. The witchdoctor was arrested however, three weeks later the police offered a pay out to the grandmother to drop the case. This was declined and further developments in the case have not been made. There are several cases like this in the judicial system.

Former witchdoctor

Polino Angela gave up this work in 1990; since then he has dedicated his time to converting 2,400 other witchdoctors. He claimed to have killed seventy children including his own ten-year-old son in his past. James Nsaba Buturo, the Minister of Ethics and Integrity, agreed with Angela's approach stating persuading change is better than retrospective punishment, which would cause a problem for justice. In 2010, police in Uganda charged Polino Angela for lying to police about his child sacrifices. According to authorities, relatives and neighbors unanimously told them that Angela's son had died of

malaria Malaria is a Mosquito-borne disease, mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects vertebrates and ''Anopheles'' mosquitoes. Human malaria causes Signs and symptoms, symptoms that typically include fever, Fatigue (medical), fatigue, vomitin ...

. Government officials said Angela had admitted to lying in order to drum up publicity and donations for his organization.

Statistics

Statistics of child sacrifice can be hard to accurately gauge in Uganda. The Uganda Human Rights Commission published a report in 2014 that warned of an underestimation of cases.Uganda Human Rights Commission. (2014). "Child sacrifice in Uganda and its human rights implications: A research study" This was based on late claims and tampering of crime scenes.A UNICEF report stated 13 cases of child sacrifice were reported in 2014 and 2015 and six of the 2015 ones were related to elections.

Current law

Legislation

Currently, there are three pieces of legislation governing child sacrifice in Uganda. The most recent of these was the October 2009 Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act; this contained relevant sections on trafficking for the use of body parts. Prior to this there was only the Witchcraft Act of 1957 and the Children's Act 1997. Child sacrifice through witchcraft has been allowed because the authorities did not implement the Witchcraft Act within the community. It remains difficult to try and convict anyone accused under this Act as its vague expression and interpretation Child sacrifice is not specifically mentioned in it. This means that giving a maximum sentence for the murder of a child by sacrifice is extremely difficult and the courts rarely use it. In 2016 an amendment to the Children's Act was passed. Under clause 10 it protects children from violence and provides a right to access child protection services.Unicef. (2016)
"The Children Act Amendment 2016"
Spearheaded by activist Annie Nnaji, this development specifically prohibits child sacrifice, trafficking, sexual exploitation and female genital mutilation. It also ensures a service for children who have been victims and sets a mandatory structure for reporting abuse.

Anti-Human Sacrifice and Trafficking Task Force

This force was created in 2009 along with the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act. The government established the force with the intention that they would to oversee and coordinate investigations, collect statistics and work with the general public to stop this practice. The Force are covering more cases than law enforcement did before its establishment, but there is still a struggle to gain adequate evidence for convictions. The task force consists of an officer with a motorcycle and it works without a proper budget. Consequently, many Ugandans believe that the gesture of the Ugandan government is more a matter of window dressing to avert local and international criticism than a genuine attempt.

International obligations

Uganda is obliged under multiple treaties to protect the rights of children. The 1989

Convention on the Rights of the Child The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (commonly abbreviated as the CRC or UNCRC) is an international international human rights treaty which sets out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of ch ...

requires Uganda to act in the best interest of the country's children by ensuring they all have basic human rights. Uganda also ratified the

African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (also known as the Banjul Charter) is an international human rights instrument that is intended to promote and protect human rights and basic freedoms in the African continent. It emerged under ...

.African Unity. (1987
"The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights"
Several articles within this charter set out clear obligations to protect human rights. In particular Article 4 and 5 protect everyone's right to life and freedom from bad and cruel treatment. Article 18 specifically identifies the protection for children. This international instrument works to promote and protect basic human freedoms and human rights throughout

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

. Uganda is obliged to fulfill these expectations by continuously establishing state mechanisms to prevent tragedies like child sacrifice.

Awareness

The issue of child sacrifice in Uganda has been highlighted in the media over the past three years with ABC (Australia) and BBC producing several reports and documentaries.; BBC 2010
"Human sacrifices 'on the rise in Uganda' as witch doctors admit to rituals"
BBC Investigation quoted in the Telegraph (7 January). The media attention coincided with media campaigns by Ugandan NGOs such as RACHO, ANPPCAN-Uganda, faith-based organisations such as Kyampisi Childcare Ministries (KCM) and Rose's Journey—a collective effort of Ugandans and friends of Uganda to end child sacrifice.

Future development

There was previously an issue with the application and implementation of relevant legislation on the ground and in court. To make this change in legislation successful its effects will need to be taught properly to the Task Force, where change can start from the ground. The second area of concern is within the court systems. Cases on child sacrifice currently go straight into the general court system. Cases get held up easily and take a long time to actually go through. A department of court set up to specifically tackle child sacrifice cases would provide a suitable structure for victims and their families. This has been supported by local authorities because it will help simplify the monitoring of activities.