Police in Ngora district have detained at least four members allegedly belonging to the security team of Church of Uganda Kumi diocese for their alleged involvement in the criminal trespass, malicious damage and assault against Reformed Anglican Church members.
The suspects according to East Kyoga Police Spokesperson SP Oscar Gregg Ageca include the alleged ring leaders Okello Sam a male adult aged 19 years, Okiror Dan aka Power Mike a male adult and a known kick boxer and one of the persons who act as security for church of Uganda- kumi, Opade Emmanuel a male adult, and Oba John a male adult and a civil engineer.
He also said that, police also impounded a motor vehicle tipper white in color registration number UAF 872Y that was used by this group of people which belongs to church of Uganda – kumi Diocese and subjected the victim who had a deep cut wound on the head to Medical examination.
What happened?
SP Ageca says police of Ngora central police station are still investigating a case of alleged criminal trespass, malicious damage and assault against Rev. Osire Sam a Rev of Reformed Anglican church situated at Ajeluk village Ajeluk parish, Mukura Sub County in Ngora District that occurred on Sunday the 12/03/2023 at about 04:00AM.
The matter was registered under Ngora vide SD Ref: 03/12/03/2023
It’s alleged that on Sunday the 12th day of March 2023, a one Rev Osire Sam belonging to Reformed Anglican church while at his home at Ajeluk village, was attacked by a group of people wielding sticks, pangas, knives, axes.
“They assaulted him and the wife of the lay leader Obwin Rose and maliciously damaged his house, they then allegedly arrested the Rev. Osire Sam and took to the police. At the police station the persons who had illegally arrested the Reverend without recourse to the law were themselves arrested and detained as suspects in the matter,” SP Ageca said in a statement while adding that suspects claim that they were evicting the Reverend from the church of Uganda house with the allegations that since he was no longer a member of the church of Uganda-kumi diocese but a member of the Reformed Anglican church, he was to leave the house allocated by former.
“We would like to remind Christians of The Church of Uganda-kumi Diocese and Reformed Anglicans that Uganda is a country of religious tolerance. The recourse to religion has to be reconciled with the principles of democracy and human rights. We as the Police shall arrest any believer found abusing the rights of others in the name of religion. We therefore ask that they seek other forms of dispute resolution to avoid falling foul of the law,” SP Ageca added.