Uganda: Police Open File On Fake Pastors

New Vision (Kampala) NEWS 28 July 2007
Posted to the web 29 July 2007
By Herbert Ssempogo Kampala

THE Police have opened a general inquiry file on fake pastors countrywide.

Announcing the move, Police spokesman Asan Kasingye on Friday called on people to use the opportunity to report dubious pastors.
"Every person with a complaint against a particular pastor can come to us and give us information," he appealed, while addressing a news conference at the Police headquarters in Kampala.

The Police open a general inquiry file when there are several complaints about an issue from members of the public. "We open the file in absence of a particular complainant so that we can confirm the allegations and also find a way forward," Kasingye explained.

The Acting Commissioner (crime), Elly Womanya, who is stationed at the CID headquarters at Kibuli in Kampala, will receive all complaints.

The media has lately been awash with reports about the activities of pastors, many of which border on crime.

The Sunday Vision over three weeks this month serialised the activities of pastors who coerce their flock into "sowing" their valuables in exchange for blessings from God.

Several people have alleged that pastors take their vehicles and land titles with promises that they will cure them of HIV/AIDS, among other miracles.
"If someone reports to us that they have been threatened or intimidated, we shall take action," Kasingye warned.

He cited embattled Pastor Obiri Yeboah Kojo, who last week asked Pastor Samuel Kakande of the Synagogue Church Of All Nations to apologise to him or "face God's power within 60 days".
The Police are investigating Kojo over allegations of importing a device designed to give electric shocks, but Kojo accuses Kakande of framing him.

Kasingye also said Pastor Grace Kitaka, who is accused of sodomising Julius Lukyamuzi, had been interrogated.
Meanwhile, it emerged that Kojo is not wanted by the police in Ghana. The Police had early in the week warned that Kojo would be extradited over allegedly defrauding a woman of the equivalent of sh17m. Kasigye said the man Ghanian police seek is Alex Yeboah.