Bishop of West Lango Diocese, Rt. Rev. Julius Caesar Nina has condemned witchcraft in Kwania district following a raid on a shrine.
The shrine, the Bishop said, “led many people to lose their way.”
Bishop Nina, standing on the scripture of Deuteronomy 18:10, which forbids divination and sorcery, strongly condemned witchcraft in the whole Lango sub-region.
He was speaking on Sunday at St. Peter’s Cathedral, Aduku, during the Easter morning service.
Last week on Friday, the clergy and christians of St. Peter’s Cathedral Deanery in West Lango Diocese stormed Ogobi Cell, Aduku town council in Kwania district.
They raided a local witch doctor’s home, seized items suspected to be used for sorcery, and burnt them to ashes. The witch doctor was chased away during a mission “crusade” outreach.
During the demolition of the shrine, items recovered included three sacks of animal bones, human hair, lists of names of people allegedly marked for death, and various types of clothing, among other items.
Rev. Robert Elai, the Vicar of St. Peter’s Cathedral, stated that they approached the home after intense prayer, after which the Holy Spirit revealed to them that the household was not a “good” (holy) home.
The Very Rev. Can. George Amoli, Dean of St. Peter’s Cathedral Aduku, who led the team during the mission, urged the public to repent for the various sins they have committed in their lives.
Betty Opak Rwot, Allan Elel, and Isaac Alele were among the christians who helped demolish the shrine with fervent prayers. They expressed great gratitude to the Bishop and the christians of Aduku and Kwania at large.
Okello Tonny Alub, the chairperson of Ogobi Cell in Aduku town council, confirmed the eviction of the suspected witch doctor. He noted that the individual had been operating secretly within the Ogobi area.
According to reports from West Lango Diocese, Kwania district currently leads with the highest number of shrines and sorcerers among the four districts in the zone, followed by Oyam and Apac, while Kole district currently has the fewest.
Richard Arikwanga, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Kwania, said while the report of this specific shrine demolition had not yet reached his desk, the issue of sorcerers and “men of God” is very prominent in Kwania.
He noted that some practitioners hold certificates from the Uganda National Herbalist Association, making it a collaborative effort between the church and security organs to ensure they work transparently and within the law.
