Machete wielding father attacks clergyman conducting son's burial

A man armed with a machete caused panic at a burial when he chases after the clergy conducting the ceremony in Amuria district.

Wilberito Eletu who is thought to be in his 50s chased after Raymond Okello, the lay leader of Alere Church of Uganda, who had gone to conduct the burial of his son Richard Ebuga who was killed by a mob for allegedly stealing crops. 

The incident happened on Thursday at Atuba village, Awojakitoi parish in Kuju Sub County. 

"I had to run for my life, thank God nobody was hurt. It's the duty of the church to console people during hard times, unfortunately the church was chased away with a machete," said Okello. 

According to an eyewitness, Eletu was angered by the manner in which his son was brutally killed. He rushed to his house and returned with a machete and chased away the clergyman who was trying to comfort the grieving family and other mourners. 

Naboth Oroba LC1 of Atuba village said the incident shocked the whole village although he said the deceased had been troubling the parish by stealing people's property. 

Police in Amuria Central Police Station said the deceased is alleged to have stolen food items; groundnuts and sorghum belonging to a widow and sold it at Obalang cattle market on Tuesday. He was apprehended by residents who then proceeded to beat him up. 

Eletu declined to comment on the dramatic events that played out at the burial when contacted by Etop Radio.     

Richard Erimu the Amuria DPC condemned the act of the mob justice saying it was wrong for the people to take the law into their own hands.