(Nairobi) – A Juba businesswoman has been left counting her losses after sending KSh 580,000 (approx. $20,000 USD) to a traditional healer in Kenya — all in hopes of turning her spare parts shop into the next big thing.
At South Sudan’s exchange rates, that’s SSP 93 million (official) or SSP 140 million (parallel) gone — poof! — into the magical realm of untraceable mobile money.
Francy Arunga, a hopeful entrepreneur and mother of three, had high hopes when her romantic partner (also her business backer) opened a container shop for her. Things were going well — until someone said, “Try this witch doctor from Kitui, he’s very powerful.”
Like many of us who have tried a miracle shortcut before, she made the call. Enter Hassan the Healer, a spiritual entrepreneur operating somewhere between Kitui, mysticism and mobile banking.
Hassan, through a very promising conversation, said the couple could turn their modest investment into KSh 67 million (about $2.3 million or SSP 16 billion!) — with just a small initial “ritual seed” of KSh 580,000. Who wouldn’t be tempted?
But instead of unlocking ancestral business blessings, all they unlocked was financial ruin, heartbreak, and Hassan’s decision to disappear faster than a boda boda dodging Juba traffic police.
“First, we stopped making sales. Then we stopped having money. Then, we stopped having a relationship,” Francy told reporters. “He [my man] wanted his money back, but Hassan said he was still multiplying it. Then he stopped replying. Just blue ticks.”
She shared WhatsApp messages where she pleaded for refunds, guidance, or even a sign of life — but Hassan had vanished like a minister after a budget hearing.
As their shop closed and customers disappeared, Francy also found herself without a partner or job.
“He took all the clients, the contracts, and said if I didn’t pay him back, he’d send me to jail. And in this country, once you’re in, you need either a miracle or a minister to get out.”
With no cash and no backup plan, she now hustles spare parts door to door around Juba, buying in bulk and delivering on a boda boda. “It’s not glamorous, but at least no one’s promising spiritual returns,” she joked, tired but defiant.
Here’s How the Math Looks:
| Currency | Amount | USD Equivalent | SSP (Official) | SSP (Parallel) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KSh Sent | 580,000 | $20,000 | 93,000,000 SSP | 140,000,000 SSP |
| Promised Return | 67,000,000+ | $2.3 million+ | 10.7 billion SSP | 16.1 billion SSP |
Some might say this story is a cautionary tale. Others might say it’s a comedy if you remove the bank statements. Either way, Francy hopes her experience will be a warning to others in South Sudan.
“If someone promises you magic money, ask for receipts — or at least FaceTime proof,” she said. “And don’t let heartbreak cost you a house, a business, and SSP 140 million.”
She is now appeals for support as she rebuilds from the ground up — literally — with a boda boda, a backpack, and dreams that don’t involve rituals.
