Rival pastor blamed for evil spell on church
Mar 09, 2006
THE collapse of the City of the Lord Church in Kalerwe and subsequent death of 26 people has provoked mixed feelings and reactions from the public and survivors.
By Chris Kiwawulo
THE collapse of the City of the Lord Church in Kalerwe and subsequent death of 26 people has provoked mixed feelings and reactions from the public and survivors.
Word was rife that the tragedy was masterminded by a powerful evil spell cast upon the church by a pastor of a nearby rival church.
Many believers who lived to tell the story claimed they had survived miraculously and by God’s grace.
Residents said there was rivalry between the Pastor of the ill-fated church, Godfrey Luwagga and another pastor.
A survivor, who declined to reveal his identity, said a pastor of a nearby church had called one of the worshippers and threatened him before the incident.
Stephen Mbonedde, a survivor said, “The building started shaking as if there was an earthquake. There was a strong wind and dust rose. The next thing I was seeing were bodies near me.â€
As the church fell, it damaged four other houses but the inhabitants escaped unhurt.
Samuel Serugo, a neighbour on the left side of the church, said the building swayed several times before it collapsed.
At the time of the incident (about 6:30pm), the survivors said they were praying for God’s mercy on the influx of false prophets in the city.
Pastor Francis Byaruhanga of Kyebando Christian Revival Church, who escaped unhurt, said the building collapsed soon after they had started praying.
He said about 700 believers from Pentecostal churches in Kawempe division had turned up for the one-week revival seminar that started last Sunday and was convened by Pastor Nekemiah Bamutire of Mukono.
THE collapse of the City of the Lord Church in Kalerwe and subsequent death of 26 people has provoked mixed feelings and reactions from the public and survivors.
Word was rife that the tragedy was masterminded by a powerful evil spell cast upon the church by a pastor of a nearby rival church.
Many believers who lived to tell the story claimed they had survived miraculously and by God’s grace.
Residents said there was rivalry between the Pastor of the ill-fated church, Godfrey Luwagga and another pastor.
A survivor, who declined to reveal his identity, said a pastor of a nearby church had called one of the worshippers and threatened him before the incident.
Stephen Mbonedde, a survivor said, “The building started shaking as if there was an earthquake. There was a strong wind and dust rose. The next thing I was seeing were bodies near me.â€
As the church fell, it damaged four other houses but the inhabitants escaped unhurt.
Samuel Serugo, a neighbour on the left side of the church, said the building swayed several times before it collapsed.
At the time of the incident (about 6:30pm), the survivors said they were praying for God’s mercy on the influx of false prophets in the city.
Pastor Francis Byaruhanga of Kyebando Christian Revival Church, who escaped unhurt, said the building collapsed soon after they had started praying.
He said about 700 believers from Pentecostal churches in Kawempe division had turned up for the one-week revival seminar that started last Sunday and was convened by Pastor Nekemiah Bamutire of Mukono.