The Jinja city-based Holy Healing Ministries International Church was torched by suspected arsonists on Thursday morning, Kiira Region police have confirmed.
Police has since blamed the incident on a five-year-old wrangle between the church leadership and a one, James Bagaga.
Two people including Jonathan Kalikyera, a church and another unidentified man died on the spot. Church members say rowdy youths surrounded the church premises at about 6:30 am and roughed up some of the worshippers before setting the church ablaze.
A team of detectives led by David Otabong, the commandant of Jinja central police division inspected the scene of the crime and interrogated some of the eyewitnesses. Otabong asked all potential eyewitnesses to volunteer information that will help their investigations and prosecution of the suspects.
According to information obtained by our reporter, Bagaga reportedly sold one acre of land to the presiding apostle of the church, Joseph Muwanguzi in 2015 for an unspecified amount of money.
However, in mid-2017, he tasked the church leadership to add him more money, saying that they duped him with less money since the land sits in a prime area. It is alleged that after fruitless meetings, Bagaga led rowdy youths to attack church members during a church service in early 2020 following the reopening of the places of worship following the nationwide lockdown.
The church filed a case of assault against Bagaga at Jinja Central Police station. The church leadership also petitioned Jinja high court to resolve the land wrangles, which have created tension within the community. The court is scheduled to hear the petition early next week however despite the fact that Bagaga has declined to file his defence.
The church administrator, Betty Tumwesige, says that they have suffered a lot of harassment from Bagaga and it is high time security personnel step up their efforts and conduct comprehensive enquiries into the matter.
George Kato, an assistant pastor, says that several well-wishers teamed up with the police fire and rescue service personnel to stop the fire from spreading to the neighbouring premises since the church seats in a residential area.
Bagaga is reportedly on the run. His known phone numbers are also unreachable. James Mubi, the Kiira Region Police Spokesperson, says that they have documented the scene of the crime and arrested three suspects, whose identities have been withheld for fear of jeopardizing investigations.
He says that the suspects and others still at large face arson and murder charges.
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