Judicial Commission to Investigate Increase in Ugandan Human Sacrifice Murders

By Jared Kleinman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KAMPALA, Uganda - The number of people killed in human sacrifice in Uganda has increased from 3 in 2007 to 25 in 2008 and 29 in 2009, according to a report obtained from Ugandan Police.

In addition, a total of 123 people were still missing by the end of 2009, the majority of them, or 90, were children. Most of the missing are suspected to having become victims of human sacrifice. Reports indicate that most tribes traditionally sacrificed livestock for good luck however, only in recent years have Ugandan's begun to sacrifice human beings.

To date, 125 suspects have been arrested and 54 were taken to court. They were charged with criminal offenses such as murder, abductions, kidnap, causing harm and attempting to sell children. However, nobody has been convicted so far.

The Ugandan government announced Monday that they plan set up a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the increasing number of suspected ritual murder cases. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Kirunda Kivejinja, informed Parliament that the commission would be headed by retired Supreme Court judge Joseph Mulenga.

The announcement came after the MP, Mathias Kasamba, complained about daily media reports of mysterious murders involving cutting of limbs. Kasamba said the brutality and rate at which children are sacrificed is sickening. "As people's representatives, we cannot just sit and watch. We request the Government to tell Parliament what measures they have to reduce these deaths," said Kasamba.

For more information, please see:

New Vision - Judicial Commission to Probe Ritual Murders - 2 February 2010

Nam News Network – Human Sacrifice on the Increase in Uganda – 31 January 2010

New Vision - Police Should Clarify on Ritual Murder Cases – 29 January 2010

New Vision - Ritual Sacrifice Victim Drugged – Relatives - 26 January 2010