Residents burn down church over cult worship

Destroyed. Jesus the Living stone Ministries church up in flames after being burnt down by residents in Kanyagoga Parish, Bardege Division in Gulu Municipality on Sunday. COURTESY PHOTO

Residents of Kanyagoga Parish in Bardege Division, Gulu Municipality, have burnt down a church belonging to a self-proclaimed pastor, accusing him of cult worship.
Jesus the Living Stone Ministries or Yecu aye Got Makwo headed by “Bishop” Bataringaya Okumu was set ablaze on Sunday afternoon.
The Police had banned the operations of the church and issued a warning to its leader and followers a week ago following complaints from residents in the area.
However, on Sunday, Mr Okumu and hundreds of his believers dressed in white clothes returned and opened the church for prayers, something that did not go well with the residents.
The division chairperson, Mr Patrick Lumumba, said Mr Okumu has been practicing a doctrine that bars his followers from living a normal life.
“These believers behave like mad people; they claim that they are possessed by Holy Spirit. Some of their members carry stones and enter people’s homes, their behaviour scares children and every resident of Kanyagoga Parish,” Mr Lumumba said.
He said the church leaders have also been banning their members from accessing medical treatment from hospitals and clinics, claiming that they heal them through the power of the Holy Spirit alone.
He said as a result, a man living with HIV stopped his medication and started staying at the church only to pass on shortly after.
Aswa Region Police spokesperson Jimmy Patrick Okema said on the fateful Sunday, the police fire brigade rushed to the church and put out the fire that was set by the mob.
He said the church leader was later arrested and charged with disobedience of lawful orders but released on police bond.
Rev Patrick Okecha, the chairperson Born-again Faith Federation in Acholi sub-region, said Mr Okumu’s church is not registered with them.
“Okumu is a self-styled pastor; he is not registered with the Born-again Faith Federation; what he practices is witchcraft, not preaching the gospel,” Rev Okecha said.
Efforts to speak to Mr Okumu were futile by press time. However, his wife, Ms Beatrice Atim, who is also a member at the church, refuted allegations of cult worship.
“We are Christians just like any other born-again church; we are, however, being fought by the Born-again Federation in Acholi and the LC3 chairperson of Bardege on grounds we don’t understand. We have been in operation for more than 20 years and never witnessed such allegations,” Ms Atim said.