WAKISO: Man beaten to death for rejecting traditional worship

The Police in Wakiso have arrested four suspects on allegations of murder after they beat one of their relatives for rejecting the worship of traditional spirits.

The deceased identified as Aloysius Namwanja, 37, was attacked and killed in an incident that happened on Saturday in Lulagala Cell, Kavule Ward in Nansana Municipality, Wakiso District.

According to the Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson, Mr Luke Owoyesigyire, it is alleged that the four family members and others still at large had gathered on Saturday together with Namwanja for a traditional worship ceremony to get rid of suffering in their lives because the spirits were angry that he had refused to worship them.

“Four suspects have been arrested on offences of murders. We are still hunting others who are on the run. The victim’s body has been taken to the mortuary for a post-mortem,” Mr Owoyesigyire said in a Sunday police statement.

During the incident, Namwanja is alleged to have been given an opportunity to worship the spirits so that the family might get relief, which he declined.

“Some of the witnesses alleged that a few hours later, one family member got possessed by the spirits and started behaving in an abnormal manner. They said the affected member of the family attacked Namwanja,” Mr Owoyesigyire said.

He said other members of the family also joined in to beat Namwanja, who later became unconscious, and then burnt him in the chest.

“We suspect that it was during their beating that Namwanja died. When the family members found out that he was dead, they attempted to hide evidence by stripping the body and giving it a bath,” he said.

Mr Owoyesigyire said the police officers went to the home and secured the crime scene, leading to the recovery of some sticks allegedly used in the battering of the deceased, among others.

“We recovered the sticks that they allegedly used to beat the dead. More exhibits were also recovered at the scene. We have exhibited them and will hand them over to the forensic experts to examine them. The body is being examined by medics at Mulago morgue,” he said.

The KMP Deputy Spox added that police also recovered marijuana at the scene, which they suspect some of the family members used in their initial spirit worship.