Cops raid Catholic complex
Mar 03, 2006
THE Police on Wednesday night cordoned off and searched the Soroti Catholic diocese Eneku village complex in Madera over allegations that it was being used to distribute money to influence the local council elections.
By Nathan Etengu
in Soroti
THE Police on Wednesday night cordoned off and searched the Soroti Catholic diocese Eneku village complex in Madera over allegations that it was being used to distribute money to influence the local council elections.
The coordinator of Soroti Catholic Diocese Development Organisation (SOCADIDO), Rev. Fr. Athanasius Mubiru, said the Police called him at around 2:00am to inform him that they were within the complex.
Eneku Village provides accommodation and conference facilities.
Mubiru said the Police led by the district police commander (DPC), Pius Mutabazi, searched two rooms, including one that had been occupied by the Soroti district woman MP, Alice Alaso.
He said Alaso spent a night at the complex as a guest.
“The DPC told me that they were around and that they wanted to search some places. I informed him that they could only search in the morning,†Mubiru said in a telephone interview.
Mutabazi confirmed that his personnel cordoned off the complex but did not search any rooms.
“We had gone there to follow up some information. We withdrew after we failed to get much,†Mutabazi said in a telephone in interview.
Mubiru said the Police used a weak point in the fence to enter the complex.
“They then looked up the night guard, disarmed him and asked him to show them the visitors’ book before they demanded to be led to some of the rooms, including that where the Soroti Woman MP, Alice Alaso, was sleeping,†Mubiru said.
Mubiru said the church had come under attack over allegations that it facilitated the presidential and parliamentary elections that saw nearly all the Teso MPs voted out.
“It is alleged that we withdrew sh200m that we used to bribe the electorate to vote the NRM out of the Teso region. It is also alleged that we fuelled the motorcycles for SOCADIDO, which were later used to mobilise voters against the NRM candidates. All these are blatant lies.â€
in Soroti
THE Police on Wednesday night cordoned off and searched the Soroti Catholic diocese Eneku village complex in Madera over allegations that it was being used to distribute money to influence the local council elections.
The coordinator of Soroti Catholic Diocese Development Organisation (SOCADIDO), Rev. Fr. Athanasius Mubiru, said the Police called him at around 2:00am to inform him that they were within the complex.
Eneku Village provides accommodation and conference facilities.
Mubiru said the Police led by the district police commander (DPC), Pius Mutabazi, searched two rooms, including one that had been occupied by the Soroti district woman MP, Alice Alaso.
He said Alaso spent a night at the complex as a guest.
“The DPC told me that they were around and that they wanted to search some places. I informed him that they could only search in the morning,†Mubiru said in a telephone interview.
Mutabazi confirmed that his personnel cordoned off the complex but did not search any rooms.
“We had gone there to follow up some information. We withdrew after we failed to get much,†Mutabazi said in a telephone in interview.
Mubiru said the Police used a weak point in the fence to enter the complex.
“They then looked up the night guard, disarmed him and asked him to show them the visitors’ book before they demanded to be led to some of the rooms, including that where the Soroti Woman MP, Alice Alaso, was sleeping,†Mubiru said.
Mubiru said the church had come under attack over allegations that it facilitated the presidential and parliamentary elections that saw nearly all the Teso MPs voted out.
“It is alleged that we withdrew sh200m that we used to bribe the electorate to vote the NRM out of the Teso region. It is also alleged that we fuelled the motorcycles for SOCADIDO, which were later used to mobilise voters against the NRM candidates. All these are blatant lies.â€