The Chief Magistrate’s Court of Kira has acquitted the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Orthodox Church and leader of Mamre Prayer Centre Namugongo, Janda, Jacinto Kibuuka, of aggravated torture of a minor, Othieno Denis Mukisa.

While acquitting Kibuuka on October 5, the trial magistrate, Rose Nsenge, said evidence brought before court indicated that on the day and time Kibuuka is accused of torturing the victim at Mamre Prayer Centre in Namugongo, he was in Mitala Maria, Mpigi district at the church’s seminary opening of the new semester programme.

The magistrate also said there was a lot of contradictions and inconsistencies in the prosecution case as glaringly seen in the statements of the victim.

Othieno, in his first statement, accused Kibuuka of beating him, but did not indicate the same in the Police statement and during cross examinations.

“The victim, while giving his sworn testimony before court, stated that he was beaten by Bishop Kibuuka with Davis, Ali, Michael and Tofa. However, during cross examination, the victim informed court that Bishop Kibuuka did not beat him. This testimony is corroborated by the testimony of his mother (Juliet Nakalyango),” reads the judgement.

Kibuuka was on August 22, last year charged with the offence of aggravated torture and remanded to Luzira Prison for two weeks.

It was alleged that at Mamre Prayer Centre, Kibuuka inflicted injuries on Othieno causing him grievous harm, accusing him for having stolen his money.

During his thanksgiving prayers on Thursday, Bishop Kibuuka said he has forgiven every person who was behind the ill move.

“I thank God for seeing me through the challenges and the battles, because the tormentors wanted me to be sent to life imprisonment,” he said.

Kibuuka used the prayers to reveal that on November 12, they are going to consecrate three more bishops, who will further God’s work in the Evangelical Orthodox Church in Uganda and the DR Congo.