By Tim Binnall
A mystery surrounding a stolen motorcycle in Uganda took a tragic turn when a man perished after ingesting a concoction mixed up by a witch doctor enlisted to solve the crime. According to a local media report, the weird case began last week when someone stole jailer Daniel Ogwok's bike from the barracks of the Openzinzi Prison. Determined to find the sticky-fingered ne'er-do-well who made off with his motorcycle, the prison guard called upon a local witch doctor to work his proverbial magic.
Gathering up his colleagues at the prison last Thursday afternoon, Ogwok's mystic provided the group with "herbal medicine" that, he claimed, would supernaturally identify who stole the motorcycle and, presumably, clear any innocent parties. Among the workers, three men fell ill from the mysterious substance and were promptly rushed to the prison hospital. Seemingly having identified the suspects, the witch doctor subsequently administered a purported remedy for the potion. However, only two of the three guards recovered, with prison worker Mathaeus Wegumba passing away from the misguided investigation.
As one might imagine, authorities were rather displeased with what unfolded at the prison, imploring the public to call upon police rather than mystics when they need help solving a crime. Meanwhile, Ogwok and the witch doctor are now on the run, wanted for their role in Wegumba's untimely demise. One imagines that the pair will find themselves ultimately on the other side of the prison's bars should they be caught and convicted for the prison guard's death.