KAMULI – There was drama in Mukokotokwa village, Mbulamuti sub-county in Kamuli District on Saturday, March 23, when two men suspected to have stolen cattle started chewing cud and mowing like cows.
Mr. George Basoga and Mr. Alone Amisi, both 22, from Mukokotokwa village in Kamuli District allegedly stole a cow belonging to Mr. Christopher Alaminsi of the same village last week and sold it to cattle vendors at UGX1.5m.
Mr. Alaminsi, however, reportedly sought the help of a Palisa-based witchdoctor to recover and punish the thieves.
The area LC1 chairman, Mr. Zadik Kagawa, on Sunday, March 24, said two days after stealing the cow, the suspects returned to where they stole the cow and started eating grass and mowing like a cow later in the day.
Police were called in to arrest the suspects and take them to hospital for treatment.
“We convened a meeting yesterday (Saturday) in which the duo confessed to committing the crime and were ordered to pay UGX3.5m in addition to refunding the UGX1.5m proceeds from the sale of the cow.
“They were also ordered to pay for the native doctor’s services, pay the owner and us something for negotiating to save their lives,” the LC1 chairman said.
The Kamuli District hospital medial superintendent, Dr. Zaidi Atuma, said they received the patients and gave them medical attention in addition to psycho-social support.
“Often, patients come with such associated complaints and we handle them until they get out of the perceived witchcraft. It is not easy handling psychotic patients,” Dr. Atuma said.
