The church building as it was demolished. Photo: Courtesy.
Christians at Oasis of Life Destiny Church – Namuwongo together with the senior Pastor have 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.
The pastor urged that the ministry sought “approval” from relevant authorities and followed “required procedures” before the Church was constructed.
“We have been operating in that area for the last 7 years. We were renting until last year when we at least came up with a plan of acquiring land in the same community,” Obbo said.
He urged that the District Police Commander (DPC), the Officer in Charge, Town Clerk and Resident City Commissioner (RCC) were all reportedly unaware of the demolition plan.
According to the Pastor, local leaders say those who demolished the Church included KCCA agents, and the anti-terrorism police, with a tank of teargas.
The pastor says they never wanted eye witnesses at the scene to record the demolition, but some concerned people around the community managed to.
“They could not listen to anyone. They did not allow people to remove our property. They were determined to destroy every thing. We had our sound equipment, the chairs and other things inside,” Pastor Obbo explained.
“When they got questioned much by the local police, they run off but had already caused much damage,” he said.
“The good news is, the building is put down but the Church is even growing stronger. Pray for us, no worries, the Lord is exalted higher. I feel more strength to even preach more in this community, the principalities are defeated, praise Jesus,” Pastor Obbo explained.
This development comes at a time social media is awash with scorn for the illegal demolition of a 40-year-old old Anglican church building in Ndeeba, Lubaga division during lockdown.
St. Peter’s Church was demolished after a longstanding land wrangle between the church leadership and a businessman only identified as Dodovico.
A statement from Kampala Metropolitan Police revealed that the demolition was against government directives stopped evictions during this COVID-19 period.
