The chief magistrates court of Lira has sentenced Alebtong woman to three years, five months and 29 days in prison for witchcraft.
Court heard that Filda Adongo, a resident of Adagawaka cell in Apala Town council in Alebtong district, on the 23rd of February 2026, committed two crimes.
On count one, criminal trespass contrary to section 282 (a) of the Penal Code Act Cap. 128 and count two, practicing witchcraft, contrary to section 2(3) of the Witchcraft Act Cap 135.
Court ruled that by entering the garden of the complainant that the accused did without his consent and digging a hole in the garden of Ogwang Joshua and burying certain things and later pinning four small sticks at the corners of the buried hole, appearing like a grave.
During trial, the chief Magistrate His Worship Joe Fae Adoko, heard from different witnesses and ruled that the act of Adongo entering Ogwags garden during broad day light and digging a hole about 10 centimeters deep and burying certain powdered staff with a red cloth and placing four small stick at the corners of the buried hole to make it look like a grave, was criminal.
Court ruled that it was fully convinced that the prosecution had proved their case beyond reasonable doubt and the accused was convicted.
Accordingly, Adongo was sentences to five months and 29 days for trespass and three years in prison for practicing witchcraft contrary to section 2(3) of the Witchcraft Act Cap 135.
The chief Magistrate told court that under the Act, a convict is liable to serve five years in prison but upon assessment, he preferred three years imprisonment to deter other people from committing the same act.
Adongos sentence comes at a time that many people claim witchcraft cannot stand before court, but Chief Magistrate has made a wakeup call to the community where the act is still rampant.
