Katwe DPC, 11 others Arrested Over Demolition Of Ndeeba Church

BY ROBERT KAMUKAMA

KAMPALA, Uganda|SHIFTMEDIA| Ugandans woke up to the rude shock after unknown gangs hired by a city tycoon demolished St. Peters Church of Uganda in Ndeeba.

Loud cries filled the air waves in Ndeeba a Kampala suburb as Christians shed tears at the debris of the once magnificent church.

Earlier Minister for Lands Housing and Urban Development Beti Olive Namisango Kamya warned that action would be taken against the police officers for not protecting the church premises.

Now we can report that so far 11 people including the DPC of Katwe have been arrested and put under custody as police launched investigations.

The DPC and scores of others were arrested on the orders of the Commander Kampala Police Metropolitan Moses Kafeero (below)

Moses KafeeroThe Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango confirmed the arrests saying: “The Katwe Police Station got information of the demolition of St. Peter’s Church at around 1.00 am and instantly, a team was dispatched to the scene.

Police were not informed about the eviction and demolition as the practice is. The team found people demolishing the said church and arrested 11 suspects,” Onyango said.

The suspects have been identified as Mohammad Kawooya, Bbosa Muniru, Amza Kiberu, Abbasi Mutebi, Ali Bulega, Simon Matovu, Ali Kalika, Andrew Mujuzi, Badru Ssekito, John Isirinya and Bashir Maruti.

Onyango said that four police officers who were supposed to protect Church properties but failed to do so were also arrested and will be charged with neglect of duty.

“They are; DPC Katwe, SP Epedu David, OC Station Ndeeba Police Station, ASP Mugira Yeko Kato, Field Force Unit (FFU) Commander KMP/South Region, ASP Kaloli Isabirye,”

By press time according to Onyango, all the eleven were still being detained at Katwe Police Station to help with investigations and will be charged with malicious damage to properties.

Onyango added two motor vehicles Reg. No. UAY 796N canta white loaded with metals and UBG 682Q Tractor loaded with Engineering plant, were impounded from the scene.

Government through the Ministry of Lands had earlier issued a directive that no evictions should happen during the period of Covid-19 and Onyango reaffirmed that, all those involved risk being arrested and charged in courts of law.

The St. Peter’s Church of Uganda in Ndeeba had been in existence for over 49 years at the time of its demolishing.

The building was demolished after a longstanding land wrangle between the church leadership and a businessman only identified as Dodovico.

Police officers have been guarding the land for several months and no Christian was allowed to access the building.

Several car washing bays, food kiosks, motor garages and a nursery school that occupied part of the land were demolished several months ago