Child sacrifice is on the rise in Uganda, as witch doctors forced to leave Tanzania relocate to Uganda where they can register as “natural healers.”
Albino Rescue – A Four Year-old Boy Survives Child Sacrifice Attempt
It was a sheer stroke of luck for a four-year-old Vicent Katongole. He had been grabbed by two men and women who dragged him into the Bush and pinned him to the ground in Kitovu Village Malongo subcounty in Lwengo District for child sacrifice.
They then made a cut on his neck and started draining his blood into the basin. It is at that moment that a passerby got curious about the harsh sound coming from the Bush and went to find out what was happening.
The men and women immediately dropped the boy and took to their heels as the passerby screamed an alarm. The men abandoned the basin and the boy with a badly bleeding neck.
Back at home, Katongole’s mother Veronica Nassuna was going about her usual chores unaware of any evil going on in the neighborhood.
It was getting late and even when she heard the alarm, it never occurred to her that her son could have been in trouble. When she heard the noise nearing her house, she rushed to find out what was happening with the other villagers.
“Every time I think about what I saw, tears flow from my eyes uncontrollably.” Nassuna says,”My only child was the one my neighbors had rescued from witchdoctors who were sacrificing him not far from my home. He was covered with blood and part of his neck was cut.”
Nassuna said that her child had gone out to play. Neighbors said he had walked away with his uncle Abu Kasanyi popularly called Uncle Soma.
It was not the first time the little boy had been with his uncle, so Nassuna had no cause to worry. But on the same day, unknown to Nassuna, Kasanyi was in contact with six people who wanted a child for sacrifice.
Katongore said that his uncle called to him and when he reached the bushes, the other men and the woman grabbed him and took him away from the road.
After the rescue, the mob descended on Kasaanyi’s house but the police intervened before Kasaanyi and some of the other suspects could also be killed.
Ruth Besimire, the officer in charge of Investigations in Lwengo, said that the suspects were in detention.
The suspects are: Ahmed Lubwga, Hadijja Nannono, Resty Nalubyayi, Aisha Nabukenya and Paul Mugerwa.
Katongore was taken to a nearby clinic for treatment. Nassuna said that she was asked to look for more money and was discharged despite the fact the child’s condition was still bad.
Doctors said his nerve was severed and needed advanced professional help.
How you can help
Humanity Healing is actively fighting the human trafficking and child sacrifice of children with albinism in Uganda. First, child rescues can expensive, depending on distance to and location of the child, activities of human traffickers in the area, weather, and medical condition of the child. Once rescued and brought into the program, child sponsorship ($30/month) is needed for room/board/schooling.
We also need you to spread the word and shine your light on human trafficking and child sacrifice.
To learn more about the Albino Rescue Project, click here.
To save a child from sacrifice or become a sponsor child, click here.
