Ritualm*rd: "Onkel schlug Jungen den K*pf ab & entfernte Genit*lien" - Annie

Summary

Annie Ikpa recounts how she left a television-editing career in the UK to volunteer with an NGO supporting abandoned babies in Kampala, Uganda. There, she met a young girl who had survived an attempted ritual killing. The experience prompted Annie to investigate ritual child sacrifice, which she says was widespread but taboo.

Annie describes a case in which an uncle lured twin boys into the bush, killed one, and mutilated his body while the other twin watched and escaped. She says children targeted for ritual killings may be conscious and suffer greatly. She explains that perpetrators were often prosecuted under general criminal laws that did not specifically address ritual child murder, potentially resulting in inadequate penalties.

Determined to change this, Annie spent seven years building support for a specific bill in Uganda, despite threats and intimidation. The bill passed Parliament, and Uganda’s president signed it into law on July 14, 2021. Annie says her next priorities are helping ensure the law is enforced and supporting similar legislation in other countries.

Presenters and Contributors

• Annie Ikpa — Interview guest and campaigner
• Interviewer — Not identified in the subtitles