Pastors held over child abduction
Aug 15, 2007
TWO pastors have been arrested on allegations of abducting 13 children, who were later employed as ushers in their church.
By Herbert Ssempogo
TWO pastors have been arrested on allegations of abducting 13 children, who were later employed as ushers in their church.
Archileo Sserwada, 36, and David Walusimbi, 21, of Local Deliverance Righteous Church based in Kabalagala, a Kampala suburb, were arrested early this week.
The Police, who were tipped by area residents, stormed the church and rescued six girls aged 13-17. They are being kept at the Kampala Central Police Station’s reception centre.
Another man, Leonard Kizito, was also arrested after allegedly telling the Police that he was a guardian to four of the girls.
Kampala Extra Police spokesman Simeo Nsubuga yesterday said the children were picked from Masaka, Masindi, Mukono, Kakiri, Wakiso and Nsambya between January and July this year.
“The girls are supposed to be in school but these people kept them in a church,†said Nsubuga, who also accused the suspects of sabotaging the Universal Primary Education scheme.
A childcare and protection official, Fiona Beine, said the children were got from distant relatives. “One of the children left her school to receive treatment at home. She went via her brother’s home and ended up at the church.â€
She said some parents surrendered their children after guardians promised to pay their school fees. She warned parents against entrusting children with bogus relatives.
On whether the girls were sexually abused, Nsubuga said they were awaiting a report from the Police surgeon.
Walusimbi and Sserwada, who were paraded before journalists, will be charged with abduction and illegal confinement today.
Meanwhile, Kabalagala Police Station chief, Abbey Ngako, has demanded that Born-Again churches should not operate beyond 11:00pm.
He said criminals hide under the guise of being Christians going for night prayers before terrorising residents.
Ngako also noted that some areas like Kisugu, a Kampala suburb with 59 churches, would be thrown into disorder if all churches were allowed to operate at night
TWO pastors have been arrested on allegations of abducting 13 children, who were later employed as ushers in their church.
Archileo Sserwada, 36, and David Walusimbi, 21, of Local Deliverance Righteous Church based in Kabalagala, a Kampala suburb, were arrested early this week.
The Police, who were tipped by area residents, stormed the church and rescued six girls aged 13-17. They are being kept at the Kampala Central Police Station’s reception centre.
Another man, Leonard Kizito, was also arrested after allegedly telling the Police that he was a guardian to four of the girls.
Kampala Extra Police spokesman Simeo Nsubuga yesterday said the children were picked from Masaka, Masindi, Mukono, Kakiri, Wakiso and Nsambya between January and July this year.
“The girls are supposed to be in school but these people kept them in a church,†said Nsubuga, who also accused the suspects of sabotaging the Universal Primary Education scheme.
A childcare and protection official, Fiona Beine, said the children were got from distant relatives. “One of the children left her school to receive treatment at home. She went via her brother’s home and ended up at the church.â€
She said some parents surrendered their children after guardians promised to pay their school fees. She warned parents against entrusting children with bogus relatives.
On whether the girls were sexually abused, Nsubuga said they were awaiting a report from the Police surgeon.
Walusimbi and Sserwada, who were paraded before journalists, will be charged with abduction and illegal confinement today.
Meanwhile, Kabalagala Police Station chief, Abbey Ngako, has demanded that Born-Again churches should not operate beyond 11:00pm.
He said criminals hide under the guise of being Christians going for night prayers before terrorising residents.
Ngako also noted that some areas like Kisugu, a Kampala suburb with 59 churches, would be thrown into disorder if all churches were allowed to operate at night