Police in Rubavu District are holding a traditional healer after authorities found him to be operating illegally.

According to CIP Theobald Kanamugire, the Rwanda National Police Spokesperson for the Western region, Felicien Dusengimana, 39, was apprehended in Kitarama village, Gikombe cell, in Nyakiriba sector on Monday.

"Traditional healers are recognised but can only be permitted to operate if they have approval from the Ministry of Health,” Kanamugire said.

"The ministry must carry out an assessment and decide which types of diseases traditional healers can treat and what they cannot. He was arrested because he had no such permission.”

Police found 17 patients admitted in the facility.

According to Kanamugire, the traditional healer faces charges related to usurpation of duties with intent to mislead the public.”

There are about 14,000 traditional healers in Rwanda but only about 2,300 of them are accredited.

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