Acholi Leaders Warn Against Hiring Witch Doctors to Catch Thieves

Gulu, Uganda – Police and local leaders in the Acholi sub-region have urged residents to desist from hiring witch doctors to track down thieves, warning that the practice often leads to more harm than good.Speaking during a community security meeting in Gulu, regional police commanders and cultural leaders noted a rising trend where victims of theft resort to traditional healers, believing they possess supernatural powers to identify and punish culprits.

 However, authorities caution that such methods frequently result in mob justice, false accusations, and even death.

Acholi sub-region, like many parts of Uganda, has long-standing traditions where victims seek supernatural interventions for justice. 

This includes consulting witch doctors to “trap” criminals through rituals or curses.

“We understand people’s frustration when they lose property, but hiring witch doctors is not the solution,” said Patrick Jimmy Okema, the Aswa River Region Police Spokesperson. 

“Many times, this leads to mob action against innocent people, and it violates the law.”

Local leaders echoed the police’s concerns, urging communities to embrace formal justice mechanisms instead of relying on unverified claims from traditional healers.

Several recent cases highlight the dangers of using witch doctors to catch thieves. 

In Kitgum District, a young man was nearly lynched after a witch doctor accused him of stealing a neighbor’s goat. The real culprit was later apprehended by police, but the false accusation nearly cost an innocent person his life.

In another incident in Pader District, a woman lost hundreds of thousands of shillings to a self-proclaimed traditional healer who promised to “reveal” the thief through rituals.

 The witch doctor vanished with the money, leaving the victim with no answers.

“These people take advantage of desperation,” said Rev. Geoffrey Loum, a community leader in Gulu.

 “Instead of solving problems, they create more suffering. We urge people to report cases to the police and allow investigations to take place.”

Authorities are now intensifying awareness campaigns to discourage reliance on witch doctors in handling crime-related matters. 

They encourage communities to strengthen neighborhood watch groups, report suspicious activities, and work closely with police to curb theft.

“We need people to trust legal systems,” Okema added. 

“If we work together, we can ensure justice is served fairly and prevent unnecessary violence.”

As security efforts continue, police have also vowed to crack down on fraudulent witch doctors who exploit people’s fears, promising false justice while fueling conflict.