By KT Reporter
Serere District Council has passed a motion that seeks to streamline the operations of churches and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the area.
The resolution was approved during a council session. Serere district has registered a series of murder cases since June last year, where most of the victims are women. While some of the cases have been attributed to failed relations, the ritual practices for fame and wealth have also been traced recently.
Henry Opio, the District Council Speaker, noted that it was surprising to learn that some of the suspects arrested by the police were pastors and church leaders operating in the district.
Without divulging details of the individuals for purposes of the ongoing investigations being conducted by the police, Opio said that some of the church leaders were linked to murder incidents and sexual assault of women in the recent murder incidents in the district.
Angela Amoding, the district councilor for Kadungulu Sub County, said that some of the church leaders in her area have taken advantage of widows and single mothers to sexually abuse them. She told the council that in some areas, like Ogwaet village, ‘a pastor’ kept nine women indoors for days, and it later turned out that he was taking advantage of the desperate mothers.
She noted that in Adiding village, ‘a pastor’ reportedly camped in one home where he kept meeting different women at night for months.
Amoding’s chilly narrative seemed to open wounds from council members who had watched similar incidents in silence. Emmanuel Emaju, the Councilor representing Serere Town Council told council how some men wreaked havoc in his area by killing a woman after raping her.
Last month, a student was killed in Serere after a sexual assault that left her joints broken. Although Emaju didn’t mention the particulars of the victim, Jimmy Edotu, the councilor for Atiira Sub County, said that some individuals hide in church during the day.
He appealed for immediate action to address the connection between the churches and rising crime rates in the district.
Robert Adiama, the Serere Resident District Commissioner (RDC), supported the motion, highlighting the need for clarity regarding the NGOs operating in Serere.
Adiama recalled a scenario where a pastor in Serere went for alleged deliverance of a family but ended up trying to rape the host.
Stephen Ochola, the Serere LCV Chairperson, said that some individuals masquerading as religious leaders may be witch doctors taking advantage of the community. Ochola says that the council’s resolution will help security agencies in addressing issues of insecurity in the district-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
