KAMPALA, UGANDA: The Police in KMP has charged to court, Bishop Kibuuka Jacinto of the Evangelical Orthodox Church at Mamre Prayer Centre in Namugongo for the alleged aggravated torture of a male juvenile suspected to have stolen shs 10,000.
The victim has been identified as Othieno Denis, a 14-year-old pupil of Christ the King Junior School in Namungoona.
According to Police spokesperson SCP Fred Enanga, facts gathered indicate that on Monday, August 22, 2022, the victim was at Mamre Prayer Center with his mother, Kemigisha Juliet, who works as a cleaner and that it is where he allegedly stole the money from.
“The mother left him behind and went to town. It was during her absence that the Bishop called the victim and started demanding his money, Ugx. 10,000 which was allegedly stolen by him,” explained Enanga in a Thursday police statement.
Enanga explains that instead of referring the matter to the police, Bishop Kibuuka started beating and kicking the 14-year-old victim severely before dragging him into his car and continued beating him as they drove to the mother’s home at Namugongo-Janda in Kira Municipality, to recover the money.
The victim was then rescued by the landlady, who rushed him to Nuwa Hospital, Nabusugwe-Mukono, where he was admitted with injuries the police classifies as grevious in nature.
Enanga adsd that upon receiving information about the incident, the police at Kira instituted inquiries and obtained very clear accounts of the incident, with relevant witness statements.
“Police retrieved medical documents and reconstructed the scene at Mamre Prayer Center. The Bishop also recorded a statement and was released on bond. It was, however, canceled on 24, 08 2022, after charges of Aggravated Torture were sanctioned against him, and was caused to appear in court at Kira on Thursday, 25 08 2022,” added Enanga.
“We do strongly condemn all acts of torture, harassment, and intimidation, more so by church leaders against vulnerable persons. Part of the mission of the church is to defend the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable persons and further promote commitment to compassion and justice. The acts, therefore, were not consistent with the values of the church and not justified under any circumstance,” the police spokesperson concluded.
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