President Yoweri Museveni visits demolished St Peter’s Church in Ndeeba on Friday. PPU Photo.
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni on Friday passed by the site of St Peter’s Church in Ndeeba that was recently demolished following a long-standing land wrangle between the church leadership and a bussiness man in the area.
Mr. Museveni said he was saddened by this incident and gave the church assurance that those behind the demolish will be punished.
“Even if the church was in the wrong, ordering demolition was extreme,” the President said in his address.
“Dialogue would have resolved this matter. Judges should have limits and understand public interest. Demolishing a church is a curse,” he dded.
The President urged Ugandans to ignore reports of those claiming the government demolished the church building.
“I am going to invite the Namirembe Diocese Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira, and engage with all parties involved in this conflict to find a lasting solution,” he said.
“The bottom line is that the Church will retain this land and we shall build a new church. I have now joined this war. I also noticed large groups of people gathering in Ndeeba as I inspected the site. This is wrong. Avoid crowding in light of the Covid-19 pandemic that we are grappling with,” he added.
Earlier speaking to media, Beti Olive Namisango Kamya, the Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, said the demolition of St. Peter’s Church Ndeeba was “satanic and illegal.”
She said: “The 1995 Constitution created a set of legal owners called bonafide occupants who occupied land 12 years before 1995 without anybody contesting their stay on the land.”
Adding: “This Church has been in that place for 49 years. The land had been donated by the landowner called Nachwa, the daughter of Sir Daudi Chwa. She donated this land to this Church, where she used to pray.”
It should be noted that police officers including Katwe District Police Commander (DPC) SP David Epedu, OC Station Ndeeba Police Station ASP Mugira Yeko Kato and Field Force Unit (FFU) Commander KMP/South Region, ASP Isabirye Kaloli were arrested over negligence after the Church was demolished.
Ivan Katongole, the acting director of planning at KCCA, was also arrested to aid investigations, as he was “aware of the existence of the church and, without considering its side, issued a demolition order”.
The Anti-corruption Unit led by Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema said the demolition occurred at about 10pm on Sunday night with the full knowledge of all the aforementioned officers.
Meanwhile, Christians at Oasis of Life Destiny Church – Namuwongo together with the senior Pastor Ivan Obbo on August 12, 2020 called for prayer and justice after unknown men demolished their church building.
In a statement on Tuesday, Pastor Ivan Obbo revealed that Oasis of Life Destiny Church was “unlawfully” pulled to the ground last Thursday.
