Traditional doctor held over death of patient

RWAMAGANA - A traditional healer who recently allegedly prescribed a poisonous herb to his patient has been arrested, remanded at Ntsinda prison. Djuma Kalisa, a resident of Binunga-Munyiginya sector in Rwamagana District, was arrested recently after Djuma Habimana died at his shrine. The deceased’s family say they had sought traditional medicine after suspecting that he had been poisoned.But on taking the herbs prescribed by the doctor, the patient died immediately. The area sector advisor, Edward Nsengimana, confirmed the arrest, adding that investigations were still ongoing. Nsengimana said they suspected Kalisa to have been responsible for the death of Habimana because he was not known among traditional healers in the area. When contacted, the suspect’s wife Dansira Nyiramutangwa, insisted that her husband has been a renowned herbalist. “My husband has great experience in the herbal medicine…he has healed many people, he only lacks a license. He is in jail because he failed to produce the required documents,” Nyiramutangwa said. The belief in traditional medicine and witchcraft is still rooted in the minds of Rwamagana residents and indeed most of Eastern province. The area authorities have tried to sensitise residents against such beliefs with little success, local leaders say. Ends