Christian organizations are joining forces with the government to combat the perennial and growing problem of child sacrifices in Uganda, we have come to know. The call was made by Pastor Peter Sewakiryanga, who heads Kyampisi Childcare Ministries, a Christian organization that fights child sacrifice in the country. In an open statement, the philanthropic minister said,
“It’s a serious problem, but we are fighting it with the help of the government……It’s a brutal ritual that destroys the lives of our children and affects their parents mentally….We are working with the police to arrest witch doctors involved in the ritual. We are also assisting the survivors financially and with moral support.”
According to Sewakiryanga, most survivors or victims of child sacrifices have not been filing police reports. Therefore, he is imploring victims and anyone who might be having information on it to come forward.
This is not the first time the pastor has collaborated with the state in putting out heinous and predatory beings.
Three years ago his charity worked with Ugandan police to arrest a witch doctor and his accomplices who sacrificed a 7-year-old girl named Suubi, they drained her blood, cut out her genitals and neck before they drained her 10-year-old brother, Kanani. In June, a Ugandan court sentenced the witch doctor to life in prison.
Throughout Uganda’s history, human sacrifices were unheard of. Traditionally, they used livestock such as goats, chickens or cows – but it has been postulated that a number of socio-economic and cultural factors such as poverty, lack of education and inequality has led to a worrying rise of children being targeted.Children are said to be particularly targeted because they are seen as pure and spiritually clean.
The practice has been able to take root because of inadequacies in the investigations processes conducted by security agencies, lack of forensic evidence facilities and the absence of a specific law governing traditional healers.
In 2010, ABC News reported on the growing number of child sacrifices in Uganda. Their report revealed that many Ugandans believe that child sacrifices appease the gods and bring riches as a reward. According to the story,
“Ugandan law enforcement officials say parents have sold their children to the witch doctors for slaughter. If they can’t find a child to buy, they snatch one.”
That was seven years ago, and things have only gotten worse since then. Multiple sources have claimed that children continue to live in constant fear of being kidnapped and sacrificed on their way to school.
The sacrifices are violent, and usually, involve the slow removal of body parts. RNS tells the story of one mother who,
“sobbed as she described how her 8-year-old son was found in a nearby swamp in February without teeth, lips, ears and genitals.”
As human beings first and a Christian media we are sending our prayers to Uganda and wishing Pastor Peter Sewakiryanga and the state a very fruitful exercise in curbing out this abhorrent and medieval practice.
Source: Child Sacrifices on the Rise in Uganda
