The Rt. Rev. Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira Bishop Namirembe Diocese says the Church of Uganda is dismayed by the demolition of St. Peter’s Church, Ndeeba.
In the wee hours of Monday morning, men guarded working on behalf of a businessman only identified as Dodovico brought down the 40-year-old structure.
Dodovico has been in a longstanding wrangle with the church leadership and for several months, the building was guarded by police.
“Today we woke up to a disheartening development about the demolition of the church in Ndeeba... very unfortunate for an issue which has been handled since 1981 to conclude in such a manner. It hurts all of us and in a special way the Christians of St. Peters Church Ndeeba," the Bishop said in an audio statement.
Bisshop Luwalira noted that the beauty of the Church structure depicted the efforts that Christians put up to have such a magnificent Church, which was ruined within minutes. He appealed to Christians to continue focusing on God but to also take note of the trying times during which evil is being dignified. Bishop Luwalira says that the act will not destroy the belief of the people and have no authority in the spiritual world.
In a related development,
The leader of newly created opposition political party National Unity Platform who also doubles as Kyadondo East MP, Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine has condemned the act, saying it is unfortunate that a desecration of the Holy place was carried out by criminals in police uniform.
He quoted the Bible in Proverbs 29:2 that "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked rule, the people mourn
“Sadly, our country is being ruled by an evil and insensitive lot of people. They are insensitive and callous. They have allowed mafia gangs to wreak havoc everywhere, and now they have reached the House of God. We have consistently told the nation that as long as there is this breakdown of the rule of law, everyone will suffer. They have refused people to converge for prayers and now this is what is happening” Bobi wrote on his facebook page.
He added that Ugandans must all come together and embark on the job of rebuilding their country and said that he stood in solidarity with the body of Christ in Uganda following this desecration of unimaginable proportions.
Three police officers identified as David Epedu, the Katwe Divisional Police Commander, Mugira Yeko Kato, the Officer in Charge of Ndeeba Police Station and Isabirye Kaloli, the Kampala Metropolitan South Region Field Force Unit-FFU Commander were arrested on a charge of neglect of duty.
11 other people who were found at the scene were also arrested by police. The suspects are; Mohammad Kawooya, Muniru Bbosa, Amza Kiberu, Abbasi Mutebi, Ali Bulega, Simon Matovu, Ali Kalika, Andrew Mujuzi, Badru Ssekito, John Isirinya and Bashir Maruti.
The suspects are charged with malicious damage to properties.
