Clerics detained over land

Mar 26, 2006

THE Bishop of Mount Zion Cathedral in Arua district and two of his clergymen were on Thursday remanded on charges of criminal trespass.

By Frank Mugabi

THE Bishop of Mount Zion Cathedral in Arua district and two of his clergymen were on Thursday remanded on charges of criminal trespass.

Bishop Eleazer Angiriyo Ona, the Reverend Samuel Yindu and the church Lay reader, Luka Anzikua, were remanded for allegedly “grabbing” land belonging to the Adravu clan in Vurra county.

The trio appeared before the Arua grade one magistrate, John Kategaya, who remanded them in Arua government prison for two weeks after they failed to produce sureties to get bail.

The case arose after 41 complainants from Adravu west and Orivu in Ezuku parish, Vurra county, petitioned court accusing the bishop of leading the others to grab 450 acres of land.

They accused Angiriyo of plotting to sell off the land on which 40 families are currently living.

The complainants said this was customary land where their families have lived for a long time and have their graveyards.

The land is located in a quadrangle opposite Ezuku Church of Uganda, the government forest and River Enyau.
The locals also accused Angiriyo of using a Certificate of Title he holds for 28.3 hectares to extend into the land that does not belong to him.

The magistrate queried whether the bishop had renewed his five-year lease that he acquired in 1999.

According to the chargesheet, the bishop unlawfully entered the land of the Midra family and 40 others on March 4 and 15, with intent to intimidate, insult or annoy the family.

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