Disaster minister beats pastors: Church of Uganda sends signal to Museveni

“Ugandans deserve public officials who understand their calling as servant leaders not as entitled terrorists who load it over their constituents,” Rev. Can. Capt. William Ongen.

Lira – 11, May 2021: The Church of Uganda has asked the appointing authority to “consider the character of elected officials before appointing them”.

The appeal has come days after two Lay Readers and a Priest in Wera Parish, Soroti Diocese were attacked and beaten by State Minister for Relief and Disaster Preparedness, Musa Ecweru and his team.

The incident took place on Saturday, a statement from the Church of Uganda’s Provincial Secretary, reads.

“According to the Bishop of Soroti, the Rt. Rev. Kosea Odongo, the three Church Pastors were planting cassava on Church land adjacent to the sub county and Seed School,” Rev. Can. Captain William Ongen, the Provincial Secretary adds.

He continues that the sub county recently surveyed their land and agreed with the Church on the boundaries between sub county and Church land.

“There is currently no dispute or case between sub county and Church of Uganda about land,” he reveals, adding that the three pastors are currently being treated at a Church health care centre.

“It is unclear why the Honorable Minister and his team chose to travel specifically to the site of the Church’s garden to verbally abuse the Pastors and beat them,” Captain Ongen asks.

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This much, however, is clear, according to the Man of God. “Such behavior is never called for and not befitting one who considers himself a public leader, let alone a child of God. The people elected their MP to represent all of them, not to beat them.”

“If there is a legitimate matter of dispute, there are legitimate ways to resolve them.”

The Church is calling…..

“We call upon the aggressors to seek peaceful means of settling disputes and the government to ensure that all victims are allow to file police reports regardless of who has victimized them.”

“We also call upon the government to consider the character of elected officials before appointing them to higher positions of service.”

“Ugandans deserve public officials who understand their calling as servant leaders not as entitled terrorists who load it over their constituents.”

Minister Ecweru has not been able to respond to TND News’ repeated phone calls Tuesday morning for comments.