Buyende, Uganda: A Catholic Priest in Buyende District has confessed to killing a 14-year-old boy after subjecting him to torture over missing money.
Rev Fr. Michael Owori Osuna, the Parish Priest of Wesunire Catholic Church in Buyende Town Council, admitted before Kamuli Chief Magistrate Paul Abdonson Owino on Friday that he committed the crime.
“Yes, Your Worship, I committed the crime. The boy died in my premises as we tasked him to return the sh5 million which went missing in my room,” Fr. Osuna told the court in his extra-judicial statement.
Magistrate Owino remanded the priest to Buyende Prison pending his appearance before the Buyende Grade One Judge, who is expected to forward the case to the High Court for trial since it involves a capital offence.
According to Magistrate Owino, an extra-judicial statement helps expedite proceedings by eliminating prolonged legal hurdles, saving both time and resources.
Fr. Osuna’s troubles began a fortnight ago when 14-year-old Joseph Kiirya died inside the parish store, where the priest and two of his aides, including his driver, had locked him after torturing him to force a confession over the alleged theft of sh5 million.
Police reports indicate that Kiirya was brutally beaten and left overnight in the store, where he died in custody. The following morning, Fr. Osuna went to Makanga Police Station to request officers to pick up the boy, only for police to discover his lifeless body.
The priest later handed himself over to Busoga North Police headquarters and has since faced public outcry, with community members demanding justice for the deceased teenager.
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