Adjumani, Uganda: Police in Adjumani District have arrested a prison warder in connection with the death of a colleague following a controversial herbal treatment administered by a witch doctor at Openzinzi Prison.
The suspect, Prison Warder L/CPL Kibedi Yese, is being held to assist police investigations into the incident that resulted in the death of Wegumba Mathaeus, 30, a fellow warder at the facility.
According to the North West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson, SP Collins Asea, the incident is linked to a stolen motorcycle belonging to Prison Warder Ogwok Daniel, reported earlier in May 2026.
In an attempt to identify the suspected thief, Ogwok allegedly enlisted the services of a witch doctor identified as Emmanuel, who was brought to the prison facility on March 12 at around 1:00 PM.
Police say the witch doctor administered herbal medicine to members of the prison community as part of a ritual intended to identify the culprit behind the theft.
However, the herbal concoction reportedly triggered severe adverse reactions among three warders, forcing prison authorities to rush them to the prison clinic for emergency treatment.
“When prison authorities ordered the witch doctor to stop the exercise, he reportedly refused and instead directed Ogwok Daniel to administer additional herbal remedies to the affected officers as a form of treatment,” SP Asea said.
Two of the affected warders later recovered after treatment. However, Wegumba Mathaeus, 30, succumbed to the complications and died at the facility.
Police were subsequently notified and responded to the scene. L/CPL Kibedi Yese was arrested to assist with investigations, while the deceased’s body was transported to Adjumani General Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination.
Authorities confirmed that Ogwok Daniel and the witch doctor Emmanuel are currently on the run, and security agencies have launched a manhunt to have them arrested.
Police have opened a death inquiry file registered as Adj CRB 12/2026, with homicide and forensic teams continuing investigations at the scene.
SP Asea urged members of the public to avoid relying on witch doctor rituals to resolve criminal matters and instead report cases to law enforcement agencies.
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