Tragedy in Lira: A Mother’s Quest for Lost Cattle Leads to the Death of Her Sons

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In a heartbreaking incident, police at the Ireda Police Outpost in the East Division of Lira City have apprehended a woman, identified as Milbia, in her fifties, on charges of engaging a witch doctor from Butaleja, which tragically resulted in the deaths of her two sons.

The narrative serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences that can arise from resorting to traditional witchcraft practices.

According to Alex Orengi, a neighbor, the unfortunate sequence of events began when Milbia’s cattle were stolen – one bull on January 12, 2025, followed by another the next day, just as her eldest son’s in-laws arrived for a traditional marriage ceremony.

 Desperate to recover the stolen animals, which were essential for the marriage rite, Milbia paid over 4 million shillings to a witch doctor from Butaleja.

The witch doctor’s arrival on Thursday night marked the beginning of a tragic turn of events.

 He called upon the thief to confess, but when no one came forward, Milbia’s two sons, Okot and Opoka, aged between 17 and 20, started exhibiting erratic behavior.

 Their condition rapidly deteriorated, and they died shortly after showing signs of madness.

Despite the family’s plea for assistance from the witch doctor, who demanded an additional 1.5 million shillings, the intervention failed to save the boys.

The bodies of the deceased siblings were taken to a mortuary in Lira, and Milbia turned to the police to investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding her children’s demise.

Both brothers were unmarried, and one had dropped out of primary school, adding further to the family’s sorrow.

Efforts to obtain comments from North Kyoga police spokesperson SP Jimmy Patrick Okema were unsuccessful, as his phone went unanswered.

However, this tragic episode is not isolated. There have been multiple reports of fatalities linked to witch doctors from Butaleja in the Lango region, reflecting a disturbing trend.

In a similar case on January 13, 2024, Ebong James from Aleko Cell in Inomo town council summoned a Butaleja witch doctor to help recover a stolen motorcycle. This intervention led to the assault and subsequent death of two individuals, Otuco Bonny, 26, and Odongo Aron, 22.

Ceasar Obada, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner of Kwania, highlighted that security forces have begun investigating these incidents and urged the community to avoid witch doctors, recommending collaboration with the police to address local challenges.

Rev. Joel Peter Tema, Vicar of St. Peter’s Cathedral Church in Aduku, West Lango, expressed the church’s stance against supporting homes that engage with the Butaleja witch doctor.

He encouraged Christians to work with clergy and law enforcement to resolve community issues, condemning the chaos and harm wrought by traditional witchcraft practices.

This tragic incident underscores the urgent need for educational campaigns to dissuade communities from turning to dangerous and unscientific methods in times of crisis.

The death of Milbia’s sons remains a poignant reminder of the dire consequences that can stem from such practices, urging a collective effort to seek safer, more rational solutions for addressing local problems.

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