Luwero, (UG):- A man claiming to be Jesus Christ and leader of a cult in Luwero District’s Luyima Village has been remanded to prison along with a follower for refusing to be enumerated in the ongoing National Population and Housing Census exercise.
Kingi Narvas Veran and his follower Erishani De Gresher were arrested on Monday, May 13th after they reportedly told the census enumerator, Isma Mubiru, that they belonged to a different world and were already counted there.
The duo was on Wednesday arraigned before Grade I Magistrate Christopher Tindyeebwa Adyeeri who read to them charges of obstructing a lawful duty – the National Census – as outlined in Section 28 Subsection 3 of the Uganda Bureau of Statistics Act (Chapter 3) and subsequently remanded them to Butuntumula Prison in Luwero District.
Despite pleading guilty, Narvas insisted he belonged to another world and asked for bail but the magistrate denied their request based on the “church-leaning” nature of the case. Court explained that admitting guilt in a religious context meant they weren’t considered innocent for legal purposes.
Prosecution led by state attorney Ms Sandra Nakire accuse King Narvas and his follower of refusing to provide any information to the census enumerator Mubiru, who then contacted the police, leading to their arrest.
“I am the Son of God and my father (God) has already counted us. You are arresting the son of God. You will realize the power of God,” Jesus claimed as the police tried to get details and possibly convince him to embrace the census exercise.
The cult leader, the King of Star Glopper of Eden Church, claims to be a follower of El Shaddai Gracy.
Mr Ezera Sserwambala, a resident of Luyima zone, Wobulenzi Town Council, claimed that the group that has been in the area for the last two years spends more time at the Church in loud prayers which inconveniences the neighbours.
“It is not good to stop any individual from praying, but the noisy prayers disrupt the peace of other people. We all pray, but the endless noise from this group is disturbing. We are also worried about the acts of defiance against all government programs, including the education of the children,” he said.
DailyExpress has learnt that the duo will remain on remand until their next court appearance on May 29th, 2024, at the Luwero Magistrate Court.
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