10 Cultists Held In Nebbi

Mar 09, 2002

THE Police in Nebbi on Thursday raided a sect suspected to be a cult and arrested 16 members.

By Ayiga Ondoga in NebbiTHE Police in Nebbi on Thursday raided a sect suspected to be a cult and arrested 16 members.Reports said over 10 followers of the Malara cult could have died at the camp located over 40 kilometres from Nebbi town, before the Police moved in Thursday. Nebbi District Police chief Samson Onyai said the cult leader, a self-styled bishop Viginari Odonga, was on the run.He said the Police rescued a child which was critically ill and had to be admitted to Nebbi Hospital. “It is a religious cult like that of Kanungu. They do not believe in medical treatment. They believe in cure by prayers,” Onyai said.Resident District Commissioner Peter W’Ocheng, while addressing the women’s Day celebrations, said, “Over 10 people involved in the cult have been arrested from Akworo in Padyere county and are detained at Parombo Police post.W’Ocheng said Odonga, who formerly belonged to the Church of Uganda, fled when the Police stormed the camp.“I was told of a cult in Akworo in Kasato in the parish of Kituna. The members believe that a sick person does not need medical treatment, but only prayers,” he said.W’Ocheng said most of the people at the site were malnourished, especially women and children.“A boy of two years was being bathed with hot water in the hot sun, yet he was swollen, particularly the bladder,” he said.W’Ocheng said a pot of water containing beads was in the church. “He urged people to be on the look out for strange assemblies.W’Ocheng took the sick to Parombo health centre.Ends

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