The Police have broken silence on the ongoing bickering between the Church of Uganda Kumi Diocese and the Reformed Anglican Church- RAC of the Upper Nile Diocese.
This follows a dossier written by the Rt. Rev. Michael Okwii Esakhan, the Bishop of Kumi Diocese, in which he blames security operatives and local leaders for allegedly shielding the founder Bishop of the Upper Nile Diocese, Rt. Rev. Charles Okunya Oode from unreligious conduct.
Bishop Okwii wrote to Kumi, Bukedia, and Ngora Resident District Commissioners-RDCs, which make up the Kumi diocese seeking their intervention on August 11, 2022. He faulted Bishop Okunya and the Christians of the Reformed Anglican Church for allegedly interfering with the activities of Kumi Diocese.
He said that his Christians, lay readers, and the clergy are under attack and raids from Bishop Okunya’s camp. Bishop Okwii raised 19 complaints against the RAC group including the alleged illegal and forceful conversion of church land, denied access to church property like places of worship, threatening violence, theft, causing bodily harm, death threats, and vandalism among others.
Bishop Okwii also accuses the new Reformed Anglican Church of grabbing land and the established places of worship, taking over management in CoU-founded schools and health facilities by conducting baptism, weddings, and confirmation on CoU premises.
He, however, blamed the security operatives including the Police, the District/Gombolola Intelligence Security officials and local leaders for failing to investigate and bring to book suspects in what he described as heinous acts. The prelate also cited an army general whom he declined to mention for meddling in church matters.
“We are unfortunately forced to report to you that we have done all it takes to involve the Police intervention in this matter, but it is sad, disappointing, and sickening to note that our efforts have been frustrated by some police officers who have either been compromised or failed or deliberately ignored to enforce law and order, thus leaving the pain to continue as they (police) claim that they would not intervene in our complaint because it is a religious matter”, Bishop Okwii’s memorandum to RDCs reads in part.
The Bishop asked the RDCs in their respective District Security Committees to investigate the Officers in Charge of Atutur Police Post, Kanyum Police Post- all in Kumi district, and Mukura Police Post in Ngora district for allegedly failing to intervene when matters were reported to their respective offices.
He also names the GISOs of Kabarwa and Kakure Sub Counties in Bukedea district and the DISO of Kumi district and chairpersons of Kakure and Kokwech sub-counties for allegedly supporting rebel priests against his diocese.
Oscar Gregg Ageca, the East Kyoga Regional Police Spokesman, says that the claims by Bishop Okwii need to be substantiated for the Police to take action. He reiterated that the Police cannot involve in civil matters if such matters have no criminal aspect.
Ageca asked the aggrieved parties to seek legal redress from civil courts to determine ownership of the contested property in the church.
The religious woes in Kumi emanate from the cancellation of Rev. Okunya’s appointment as the second Bishop of the Kumi diocese in 2019. Rev. Okunya broke off with his supporters to form the Reformed Anglican Church.
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