Police in Adjumani District have arrested a prison warder following the death of a colleague after a controversial herbal treatment at Openzinzi Prison.
The arrested officer, Kibedi Yese, is helping police with investigations into the death of 30-year-old Wegumba Mathaeus, a fellow warder at the facility.
According to North West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson SP Collins Asea, the incident is linked to a stolen motorcycle belonging to another warder, Ogwok Daniel, reported earlier in May 2026. To identify the alleged thief, Ogwok reportedly brought a witch doctor, Emmanuel, into the prison on March 12 around 1:00 PM.
Police say the witch doctor administered herbal medicine to several warders as part of a ritual aimed at uncovering the culprit. The treatment, however, caused severe reactions in three officers, who were rushed to the prison clinic for emergency care.
Two warders recovered, but unfortunately, Wegumba Mathaeus did not survive the complications and died at the prison.
Following the death, police were notified and responded promptly. Kibedi Yese was arrested, and the body of the deceased was taken to Adjumani General Hospital mortuary for a postmortem.
Authorities confirmed that both Ogwok Daniel and the witch doctor Emmanuel are currently at large, and a manhunt has been launched to apprehend them.
