By Nathan Eyagu 

Police in Soroti has put up a serious manhunt for a traditional healer/herbalist identified as Opolot Simon for causing the death of two siblings. 

According to sources, Opolot was hired from Kapelebyong district, to perform a ritual that could help in the recovery of a bull that had been stolen from Emoru Joseph, a 60-year-old peasant of Agaya village, Agirigiroi parish in Soroti district.

During the ritualistic performance, the two biological sons of the complainant were affected thus becoming unconscious. 

As a result, the traditional healer, duped the relatives, that he was going to look for a herb, that would help the two victims regain consciousness but however vanished

who later on died at the scene. 

Efforts of contacting Opolot via his phone number 0779-677513 didn't yield after he went into hiding before extorting an additional 2m shillings which was mobilized and sent to him thus resulting to the death of the two siblings identified as Etonu Michael aged 30 and Okello Levis aged 40 respectively. 

According to the Police Spokesperson SCP Enanga Fred in a press statement, the incident underscores the serious health and safety risks of consulting traditional healers and taking herbs from them as the suspect had no licence from NACOTHA, and is now wanted on two counts of causing death, practicing without a certificate and for extortion of money.

"We also would like to warn all traditional medical practitioners and healers, that they will continue to be charged with causing death, if their practices lead to the death of a person in future. Several traditional healers describe themselves as master herbalists, who can cure several illnesses", Enanga said. 

He also added that, "The complainant who doubles as a father to the two deceased persons, had reported the theft of his bull, at Odudui Police post, which was under investigation. The victims, could have survived if he had followed the due process of the law",