In short
Authorities in Nakasongola have banned adverts on local radios and public address systems that promote activities of witchdoctors in the wake of rampant cases of alleged demonic attacks in the district.
Authorities in Nakasongola have banned adverts on local radios and public address systems that promote activities of witchdoctors in the wake of rampant cases of alleged demonic attacks in the district.
The ban was issued at the weekend after witchdoctors and district authorities held a consultative meeting to end rampant demonic attacks on schools that have affected the learning environment.
According to the district Education department and local leaders, at least 20 schools and hundreds of pupils have been attacked in the past two years by alleged demons leading to temporary closure of the facilities. Some of the schools affected include Nakasongola Junior primary school, Kalalu primary, Kirojo College, Lwampanga, Nabiswera Church of Uganda primary schools, and Kalongo Seed Secondary among others.
The chairman Local Council Five Nakasongola James Wandira says that they have decided to ban adverts because they have found out they were deceitful and contained misleading information. Wandira explains that the witchdoctors have been using adverts and sponsoring letters of confession to hoodwink residents and luring people to visit them yet they are fake.
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Wandira adds that all witchdoctors who will be heard advertising themselves will lose their licenses and shrines will be closed for breach of the newly instituted rules. He also said that the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation-Buruuli channel that operates in the district and community loudspeakers have been warned to desist from airing such adverts or else they will also be penalised.
The Nakasongola Resident District Commissioner David Masereka says that apart from education, witchcraft has also scared potential investors.
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Joan Namagambe, a resident of Nabiswera sub county also asked the authorities to banish all people found in possession of the fetishes so as to scare away the would be users of such.
But the witchdoctors have said that this will not solve the rampant demonic attacks in the district.
The chairperson of the Nakasongola Traditional Healers’ Association, Ramathan Bempukire, says that the district should engage in sensitization campaigns of the masses who are hunting for witchcraft for selfish interests and as well screening witchdoctors before they ban adverts.
Another witchdoctor of Nakitooma sub county, John Mukalazi, adds that people’s attitude should be changed to see witchdoctors as healers and not merchants of death.
In 2011, the Media Council also outlawed running adverts of traditional healers advertising their services but different radio stations in the country continue to run the messages.
The ban was issued at the weekend after witchdoctors and district authorities held a consultative meeting to end rampant demonic attacks on schools that have affected the learning environment.
According to the district Education department and local leaders, at least 20 schools and hundreds of pupils have been attacked in the past two years by alleged demons leading to temporary closure of the facilities. Some of the schools affected include Nakasongola Junior primary school, Kalalu primary, Kirojo College, Lwampanga, Nabiswera Church of Uganda primary schools, and Kalongo Seed Secondary among others.
The chairman Local Council Five Nakasongola James Wandira says that they have decided to ban adverts because they have found out they were deceitful and contained misleading information. Wandira explains that the witchdoctors have been using adverts and sponsoring letters of confession to hoodwink residents and luring people to visit them yet they are fake.
//Cue in: “Implementation comes immediately…
Cue out: ...this is implemented.”//
Wandira adds that all witchdoctors who will be heard advertising themselves will lose their licenses and shrines will be closed for breach of the newly instituted rules. He also said that the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation-Buruuli channel that operates in the district and community loudspeakers have been warned to desist from airing such adverts or else they will also be penalised.
The Nakasongola Resident District Commissioner David Masereka says that apart from education, witchcraft has also scared potential investors.
//Cue in: “First of all…
Cue out: ...their lives.”//
Joan Namagambe, a resident of Nabiswera sub county also asked the authorities to banish all people found in possession of the fetishes so as to scare away the would be users of such.
But the witchdoctors have said that this will not solve the rampant demonic attacks in the district.
The chairperson of the Nakasongola Traditional Healers’ Association, Ramathan Bempukire, says that the district should engage in sensitization campaigns of the masses who are hunting for witchcraft for selfish interests and as well screening witchdoctors before they ban adverts.
Another witchdoctor of Nakitooma sub county, John Mukalazi, adds that people’s attitude should be changed to see witchdoctors as healers and not merchants of death.
In 2011, the Media Council also outlawed running adverts of traditional healers advertising their services but different radio stations in the country continue to run the messages.
