Church members storm police station over colleagues' arrest

TORORO: Over 200 members of St Jude Catholic Church in Apokor parish in Merikit Subcounty in Tororo District have stormed Tororo Central Police Station demanding the release of their colleagues and leaders, who were arrested on allegations of assault.

The suspects were arrested on Saturday after one of the residents identified as Stephen Obwana filed a case of assault against them.
Mr Obwana accused the suspects, who include Martin Orono, Eugenio Emojong, Zachariah Orukan, Godfrey Etyang, Tito Etyang, Henry Ikileng, and Allonsius Adungul, all worshippers at St Jude Catholic church of attacking and beating him on November 11, 2018 at church premises.
The Church is substation of Uganda Martyrs Cathedral, Nyangole in the Archdiocese of Tororo.

However, the angry Christians who stormed the police station on Monday said they were not happy with the arrest.
The Christians were led by Rev Centurion Olaboro, the priest in- charge of peace and justice in the archdiocese.
"We are aggrieved with the arrest of our church leaders and we want to know why they were arrested," Mr Stephen Omorut, one of the Christians said.

Mr Omorut explained that their leaders did not assault Mr Obwana as he alleges.
“The accuser wanted to knock one of the Christians with his car, which prompted other Christians to intervene but they did not assault him as he claims,” he said.

The District police commander (DPC), Mr John Rutaagira, while addressing the Christians, said police will handle the matter and called for calmness.
“We thank you for demonstrating solidary but we ask that you allow us to handle the matter professionally,” he said.
The church and the family of Mr Obwana are also embroiled in land dispute.