Remains of a 40-year-old church building in Ndeeba, Lubaga Division demolished on Sunday night. COURTESY PHOTO.
Several Christian leaders have condemned the demolition of a 40-year-old church building in Ndeeba, Lubaga division following a longstanding land wrangle between the church leadership and a businessman in the area.
“This is an Anglican Church building that has been there for decades and to be destroyed like this for any reason is so wrong,” Pentecostal Church leader Muhumuza Wonder Anthony said.
“Its a sad moment for the Church of Christ,” another Pentecostal Church leader, Umar Mulinde remarked.
A statement from Kampala Metropolitan Police reveals that St. Peter’s Church of Uganda, Ndeeba was demolished Monday morning, an act officials say was against government directives that banned all evictions during this COVID-19 period.
“Katwe Police Station got information of the demolition at 0100 hours and a team was dispatched to the scene,” SP Patrick Onyango, the PRO Kampala Metropolitan Police said.
The team found people demolishing the said church and arrested 11 suspects. These include Kawooya Mohammad, Bbosa Muniru, Kiberu Amza, Mutebi Abbasi, Bulega Ali, Matovu Simon ,Kalika Ali, Mujuzi Andrew, Ssekito Badru, Isirinya John and Maruti Bashir.
“They are currently detained at Katwe Police Station to help with investigations. The suspects are charged with malicious damage to properties,” SP Patrick Onyango said.
Police also arrested its own who include DPC Katwe, SP Epedu David, OC Station Ndeeba Police Station, ASP Mugira Yeko Kato and Field Force Unit (FFU) Commander KMP/South Region, ASP Isabirye Kaloli over neglect of duty.
“They were supposed to provide security to Church properties but failed to do so,” Onyango said
The police officials also impounded two motor vehicles that was recovered from the scene and these are Reg. No. UAY 796N canta white loaded with metals,UBG 682Q Tractor/ Engineering plant (excavator).
“We want to warn the general public who are planning to evict people during this period of COVID19 that they risk being arrested and charged in courts of law if they go ahead with their intentions,” Onyango said.
