Child Trafficking and Ritual Sacrifice in Uganda

Recent reports point to an alarming increase in child trafficking for the purpose of ritual sacrifice in Uganda. The Independent reported that in the first two months of 2009, 18 cases of child sacrifice were reported. Children are brutally murdered by family, friends and strangers who are motivated by greed and the pursuit of quick financial gain.

Ritual sacrifice is horrific and gruesome. Body parts such as the tongue, fingers, genitals and head are removed while the victim is alive. The victim is kept alive because it is believed that the screams of the victim increase the magical potency of the body parts.

There are two major obstacles to the eradication of ritual sacrifice in Uganda. The first obstacle is a lack of legislation that specifically criminalizes human trafficking for the purpose of ritual sacrifice. Uganda does have a 1957 Witchcraft Act that penalizes acts of witchcraft that threaten others with death but the maximum sentence of five years imprisonment does not reflect the severity of the crime of human trafficking for the purpose of ritual sacrifice. The law is rarely enforced, thus creating a sense of impunity among witchdoctors. The second obstacle is the customers. Prices for magic charms made from human body parts range from 50,000 Ugandan shillings (U.S. $25.91) to 12 million Ugandan shillings (U.S. $6,217.65). These prices are well beyond the means of ordinary Ugandans. The only people able to afford to pay these prices are wealthy businessmen and politicians who use their power and influence to block efforts to end this barbaric practice.

Uganda must pass a law that specifically criminalizes human trafficking for the purpose of ritual sacrifice and contains penalties that reflect the severity of the crime. Uganda must also commit itself to prosecuting those involved in the crime regardless of their wealth, power or political connections.