Priest Summoned Over Unlawful Possession of a gun

CRIME

Police in Ntuusi Sub County, Sembabule district have summoned a reverend for reportedly being in illegal possession of a gun and misusing it.

Rev. Herbert Tumwine of Kanoni-Ntuusi Archdeaconry is suspected to have mistreated and intimidated residents of Kanoni village using a submachine gun allegedly belonging to an LDU officer meant to guard his residence at night.

The longstanding grievances between Tumwine and the residents went out of hand on December 24, last year when his (Tumwine) cows strayed into different residents' plantations destroying numerous food crops.

This caused a two weeks protest and over 50 people accused Tumwine of mistreating them, hence police summoning him.

Residents claim to have reported Tumwine to Police for several times but their complaints are ignored yet the suspect's actions of brutalizing them are just on increase.

Residents claim to have lost maize, cassava, sweet potatoes and bananas among others.

According to Ihora Museveni 70, Tumwine's cows went into people's plantations which forced him to alert the residents who later managed to seize 9 cows so as to demand for compensation.

However, when Tumwine heard of seizing his cows, he arrived with his son and fired twice in the air to disperse the angry residents, then took his cows back.

It is then that the residents reported the matter to police Ntuusi Police Post that summoned Tumwine to record statement about the allegations.

Tumwine denied the shooting allegations saying he was brutally assaulted by the residents as he went to claim his cows.

However, Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Nelson Kabuye said he was aware of the incident but did not have any details from the area OC CID and DPC. 

"I am aware of the incident but I don't have details in the meantime," Kabuye said.

The District Police Commander (DPC), Denis Musinguzi confirmed the scuffle but refuted the shooting allegations saying they made inquiries and established that no shooting was made.

"Our officers inspected the affected plantations to assess the magnitude of the damages and residents have taken the matter to Sembabule Magistrates' Court seeking compensation," he said.

The community has also petitioned Henry Katumba Tamale, the West Buganda Diocese Anglican Bishop, seeking intervention.

In the petition dated January 7, 2020, the residents want the diocese to transfer Tumwine elsewhere.

George Ssendawula, one of the affected residents, said that this is the fourth time the cows are destroying people's crops without any action taken.

"We were wondering where a reverend got a gun until one of his workers revealed that he uses the same rifle with one Rwakasingire, a Local Defense Unit (LDU) officer attached to Ntuusi police post.

He was hired to guard Tumwine's residence at night," he said.

Frank Mugisha, another affected resident whose banana plantation was destroyed, appealed to the area MP Theodore Ssekikubo and the Security Minister Gen. Elly Tumwine to intervene.

John Mugambo, a fellow resident, said that they are living in fear since a gun can easily get in the hands of a civilian and use it as they please.

When contacted over shooting incident and people's request to transfer Tumwine, Bishop Katumba declined to comment on the matter without giving reasons.