With the invent of the modern medicine and religion, many people have shunned traditional herbalists on whom hundreds relied on. Today, it is not uncommon to hear people describing herbalists as ‘satanic’ or ‘backwardness’. But for Okot Makamoi, himself a traditional herbalist, traditional healers still play a big role in bridging gaps left by modern medicine although they are condemned by the Christian world as satanic. Makamoi, as he is best known by his clients, is one of the few remaining traditional herbalist whom the people in and around Gulu still trust. Locally known as Yat Koc, Makamoi’s herbs travel far and wide, with clients as far as Nairobi and the world over.
“I have a treatment centre in Mutungo in Kampala and another in Nairobi, Kenya”, says Makamoi.
Okot Makamoi was born in 1945 to Okoko Tong and Abola Samali in Koch Goma Sub County in Amuru district, formerly in Gulu district. Since his father and great fore fathers were renowned herbalists in their area, Makamoi did not go to school, but enrolled as an apprentice with his father.
“I inherited all these practices from my father who taught me the names and functions of the different herbs”, Makamoi said.
With his treatment centre in Kanyagoga A in Gulu Municipality, Makamoi attends to clients from all walks of life.
“I have treated modern Medical Doctors, religious leaders and great political leaders and I treat various ailments including mending pf Broken bones, treatment of sickle cell, control of diabetes and even infertility in both men and women”, says Makamoi.
And it is the mending of broken bones that has made Makamoi very popular. When you happen to break a bone or has a crack in Gulu, chances that some one might suggest that you try Yat Koc is very high.
Makamoi is renowned in Koc and Gulu town for the treatment oh the hunchback. According to ancient Acholi tradition, hunchbacks were originally associated with the spirit world, thus making it incurable. But to Makamoi, it all depends on the person treating he hunchback.
His other specialty is the bone.
Like the treatment on broken bones in hospitals, Makamoi says he treats bones with pounded herbs that he sticks around the broken bone.
“When the bone heals, the applied medicine falls off by itself,” says Makamoi.
Peter Oketta, a businessman in Gulu gives credit to Makamoi for healing him after a motor accident.
“I had my left arm broken in a motor early this year. When I took it to Makamoi, he applied his herbs and my bones got back together with ease”, says Mr Oketta.
James Ocen, a resident of Kirombe in Layibi division, also in Gulu Municipality is another one of those with testimonies on Makamoi’s herbs. Ocen says his younger sister Harriet Adong was born with sickle cell and was successfully treated by Makamoi.
“We had lost hope in having her alive. Every now and then she would be sick but after her treatment at Makamoi’s place, Adong gained life and has even produced now” says Ocen.
Above all, his wife, Santa Makamoi, has the greatest testimonies of all.
Mrs Makamoi says she had been barren all her life, and her marriages had failed because of childlessness. She had been married twice before meeting Makamoi.
“I met Makamoi in 1989 and married him. After ten months there was no pregnancy, and I was getting worried I was going to lose another marriage. One day, Makamoi told me he dreamt of an herb that could make a barren woman produce. I was the only barren woman there, so he gave me the herb and immediately I conceived”, Mrs Makamoi recounts her life as a young wife. She now has five children, with the youngest just four years old.
Today, Mrs Makamoi helps her husband in administering treatment in his absence.
“She knows every detail of medicine I use here, so she administers them to clients when I am not around” says Makamoi.
A pharmacist in the Department of Pharmacology in Gulu University Dr Mshilla Maghanga said it was not surprising herbalists were registering success because most modern medicines have their roots in plants.
“When you look a first line medicine like coertem, by the time we were in school, researchers in India were testing some herbs to find out if they could heal malaria, now it is the medicine recommended for malaria world wide. I don’t therefore doubt these herbalists can heal some ailments” said Dr Maghanga.
He however pointed out the mythical and spiritual attachments to some of the herbs as a dangerous trend for those seeking medication. He also said although the traditional herbalists continue to play a big role in the communities, they do not target specific medical problems.
“In all circumstances, healing is psychological, that is why his [Makamoi’s] clients probably get well. But he still lacks the scientific investigation into diseases so as to treat specific ailments” says the pharmacist.
But Makamoi says his treatment has neither mythical nor spiritual attachments.
“I treat with herbs, not with spiritual attachment” says Makamoi.
Gulu district chairman Norbert Mao says unless one is witch, herbalists have always bridged a gap in primary health care left by the modern medicine.
“[Makamoi] is practicing ancient medical arts using local herbs. Even the Uganda policy supports traditional medicine in curing people” Mao says.
Perhaps the challenge Makamoi still has is convincing potential clients he is not one of those mushrooming ‘African Doctors’ heavily advertising on slum sign posts and banners. And like Pharmacist Dr Maghanga says, “The problem with these herbs is their storage facility”.
