Police in Masaka have arrested a 48-year-old witch doctor for alleged rape.
Barigye Bahati, a resident of Bigasa village, in Bukomansimbi sub-county was arrested on Thursday evening following reports that he raped an 18-year-old woman who had gone for consultation at his shrine.
The criminal investigations officer, Musa Kirenzi, says the victim was raped on Wednesday, while seeking a cure against an alleged curse. While at the shrine, Bahati convinced the woman to stay overnight, under the pretext that her case was too complicated.
The woman told police that at night she was ordered to undress and move around naked. It was during this ritual that the witchdoctor grabbed and raped her.
After the incident, Bahati is alleged to have forced the woman out of her shrine and assured her that she was healed. The woman however narrated her ordeal to the local authorities who forwarded the matter to police.
Kirenzi says that a medical report shows that there was forceful penetration. He says that Bahati will soon appear in court to answer charges of rape.
