SOROTI, UGANDA: Bishop Israel Tukei formerly of Lifeline Ministries has been fined Shs 2 million by Soroti senior resident judge, Henry Peter Adonyo after being found guilty of theft. The judge gave him the option to choose between a one year imprisonment and a Shs 2 million fine.
The sentencing comes a week after court found the bishop guilty of theft. Tukei, now the founder of Light Resurrection Ministries stole church property including the land title. He was first acquitted by the grade one magistrate, Emmanuel Pirimba but the church appealed the decision. The High court overturned the ruling after agreeing with all the grounds proving theft as raised by the church.
His battle with Lifeline Ministries started in 2017 when Tukei tendered his resignation. Tukei’s resignation was shortly followed by the contention over the ownership of property of Lifeline Ministries found in Opiyai, Soroti City West Division.
The ministries founded by Apostle Julius Peter Oyet in 1995 opened both criminal and civil suits against Tukei. The prelate was convicted last month on May 25 but his sentence was postponed so as to first ascertain the status of the land title that had been under Tukei’s custody. The land title had been used as security for acquiring bank loans from Centenary bank and Vision Fund.
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