By Nathan Eyagu
SOROTI CITY
Market vendors in Moruapesur Ward, Soroti City East Division in Soroti City have cried out following increasing cases of witchcraft in the market that has left many businesses collapsing.
The outcry was voiced in a meeting held on 13th May 2022 at the market between the market committee members and the vendors.
The angry vendors blamed the market heads for being silent even when they have been reporting witchcraft cases to their office.
According to Hellen Atio a cassava chips seller who has worked in the market for more than two years, she has only been able to remain in business with God’s faith and grace following the different things that have been happening to her while in the market.
‘’ A number of times, my things have been getting lost while at the market then one morning as I was coming for work, I got a dead cat thrown inside my cooking area with blood but I had to pray before taking it away. Witchcraft is around the market and we ask the market committee members to help us out,’’ she added as she peeled her fresh cassava.
Meanwhile, a 50 years old woman owning a restaurant in the market said that she has also been finding issues in her business from the time she got dead lizards and Sodom apples around the restaurant door and kitchen.
‘’ Initially, I would make between Shs40,000 to 60,000 but today as we speak, I only make Shs8,000 and going beyond Shs20,000 is an a big task,” she said.
She also blamed the Market leadership of not responding to their pleas.
“a number of times I have reported this issue to the market chairman but nothing has been done everything remains silent till today when an old lady who sells charcoal got feaces and 1,000 ugx note tied in a poythene bag at her stall that made her not to sell anything, the leaders have been quiet,’’ she explained.
Enos Ebalu Timothy, one of the market committee members confirmed that they have been receiving such cases in their office. He however attributed the rising cases of witchcraft to the fact that the market is open.
‘’ We forwarded issues to the eastern division offices requesting for security at the market but till today we have never got any reply from them, although we have some people guarding the market, these guys are not trained,” he added.
Andrew Okello, the LC1 chairperson of Moruapesur where the market is located and also doubles as the market chairperson explained that there is need for the market to have security if such cases have to reduce and they are planning to have a meeting with the city division leaders so that the matter can be handled.
