18/04/2026
One of the biggest public health scams in Africa was orchestrated by a retired Lutheran priest, Ambilikile Mwasapile aka "Babu" in Samunge village, Loliondo, Northern Tanzania around 2010β2011.
Babu came up with a magical concoction made from a local tree, mugariga (Carissa edulis) which could cure chronic diseases like HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, and epilepsy. Infact the claim was that it could cure almost every type of ailment under the sun. But the real magic was inthe marketing, whatever vodoo he used. Its widely believed that more than 6 million people from all parts of the region descended onthe village within a period of few months to be administered the medicinal cup of this herb mixture "olomuruaki."
The promised miracle cure did not work, and the craze died down as many patients realized it was not effective. Millions of people fell for this "snake-oil" operation. Worse, many patients who had stopped taking their conventional medications in favor of the the famous cup, ended up dying and others worsening their conditions.
Ambilikile Mwasapile died a wealthy man on July 30, 2021.
