Fight for believers and property engulf Pentecostal churches

Mbarara

Clashes between two Pentecostal churches in Mbarara town have attracted the attention the Resident District Commissioner and security operatives. On Monday, members of Gospel Salvation for all Mankind Church and Christ Witness Church (GOSMA) camped at Mr Clement Kandole’s office accusing one another of taking its property and believers.

People injured
GOSMA is led by Pastor Beatrice Ntwirenabo while Pastor Elias Kaddu is the leader of Christ Witness Church. While GOSMA was the first to be established in Mbarara, some of its members walked away to form Christ Witness Church.

Ever since, the two groups have been clashing and on some occasions leaving several people injured and property destroyed. “We started our Church and this breakaway faction of Christ Witness is taking our believers and property, we can’t accept this,” one of the believers who preferred anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter told Daily Monitor at the RDC`s office. “At one time, Ms Beatrice Ntwirenabo was charged with malicious damage, following a clash between the two groups,” Mr Kandole said.

Mr Kandole who later addressed the conflicting groups outside his office said they had lost direction. “It is unfortunate that people who should be preaching to bring about sanity, are the ones bringing confusion and violence. This has to stop,” he said. He later met the leaders of the warring groups and asked them to re-register all the churches in the region under their jurisdiction.

Daily Monitor learnt that GOSMA has 38 churches while Christ Witness runs 17 churches across the south western region. “Go and reconcile if your mission in this area is to spread the word of God,” Mr Kandole advised.