Police in Jinja has started its operation of cracking down what they term as “noise” pollution in the community.
The constituted body this week, together with National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) invaded an Evangelical Church, where they confiscate the communication equipment, alleging that their worship services exceed permissible noise levels.
This act forced believers from the Evangelical Church to raid the police station in protest.
Speaking to one state aided news daily on Wednesday, the believers urged that the move was an intended attack on the Church.
“There are some people working behind our back with police to invade born-again Churches. ” One of the protesters said.
We are going to fight, even if it means approaching the President over the matter,” Another added.”Preaching the gospel is not making noise.”
They pledged not to be intimidated despite devastating interventions.
The believers then prayed at the police station, urging that spreading the gospel is a mission they are called to by God.
An official from NEMA in Jinja, Mr Muyinda David, said they had for long sent out notices to the Church, warning them against “noise making.”
“We issued a warning letter to the Church, but hardly has 5 days gone by when they started using the same “mizindalo” again.” Mr Muyinda said.
Muyinda later had a meeting with the Christians, where they came to a conclusion that they would return their equipment after signing a agreement that they will not make use their equipment loudy.
“We have an instrument we use called the ‘noise meter’.. It detects whether any particular noise has gone beyond limits or not. Whosoever we find above limit, we take them to court.” One police official stated.
According to Kampala metropolitan police spokes person Ibin Senkumbi Section 32 (1) (a) of the Police Act empowers Police to regulate the extent to which music, drumming or public address system may be used on public roads or streets or at occasion of festivals or ceremonies.
In 2013, KCCA team was led by the Executive Director had a meeting attended by leaders from the Church of Uganda, The Muslim Supreme Council, The Born Again Faith Federation and the National Fellowship of Born Again Churches to discuss KCCA’s official stand on noise pollution.
At the end of the meeting, according to Daily Monitor, the leaders offered to organize meetings at which KCCA would go and sensitize their members on the city environment Laws and Regulations as well as their participation in the Kampala development and transformation efforts.
“No Decision or Communication was made banning or stopping any religion or faith from praying or calling the faithful to prayer, in fact , the meeting noted that the different forms of calls to prayer such as Church bells, drums and the Adhan were internationally accepted practices.”
marvin@ugchristiannews.com
