Rakai leaders back Serulanda sect
Oct 23, 2008
POLITICAL leaders in Rakai district want the Serulanda/Sesamirembe religious sect to continue with its activities, saying it aims at developing the district.
By Raymond Baguma
POLITICAL leaders in Rakai district want the Serulanda/Sesamirembe religious sect to continue with its activities, saying it aims at developing the district.
The district LC5 chairperson, Herman Ssentongo, told the commission of inquiry yesterday that the sect had not forcefully recruited its followers.
“I am a Catholic and I go to church every Sunday. I relate to them, my brothers and sisters, but they have never told me to join them. Instead, they are going to support development in Rakai.â€
He said the group plans to set up a free trade zone in Rakai. Under the Kagera Eco-Cities subsidiary, the sect had signed a memorandum of understanding with a Chinese company, Paradise Investment Consultation Services, to construct the free trade zone.
The commission, headed by Prof. Nelson Sewankambo, was set up by President Yoweri Museveni in April. It commenced public hearings on Thursday, which are being conducted at the former Prisons senior officers’ mess on Buganda Road.
The commission is investigating whether the activities of the Serulanda group benefit the community, following complaints that the group operates as a cult.
Ssentongo said he, as well as Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi, had been invited by the Chinese investors to travel to China at the end of this month.
He said he had not received any complaints from the Catholic, Anglican or Muslim religious leaders about the Serulanda group’s activities.
Ssentongo added that the group initiated projects in brick making and processing of herbal medicine 15 years ago, but they had collapsed because of lack of support from the locals.
The group also plans to set up an international airport to boost trade and transport, revive the piers on Lake Victoria and set up a cyber village on 200 square miles of land, he said.
Ssentongo said over the years, the hostility from the community subsided and the Serulanda spiritual leader, Bambi Baaba, who lives in Virginia in the US, had expressed interest to return to the country to help in fulfilling the aspirations of his religious group.
While tracing the background of the religious sect, Kyotera County MP Pius Mugizi said the group began as a company during the 1980s and lured job seekers who later became followers.
He urged the Government to support the religious sect’s economic aspirations aimed at creating employment opportunities in the district.
POLITICAL leaders in Rakai district want the Serulanda/Sesamirembe religious sect to continue with its activities, saying it aims at developing the district.
The district LC5 chairperson, Herman Ssentongo, told the commission of inquiry yesterday that the sect had not forcefully recruited its followers.
“I am a Catholic and I go to church every Sunday. I relate to them, my brothers and sisters, but they have never told me to join them. Instead, they are going to support development in Rakai.â€
He said the group plans to set up a free trade zone in Rakai. Under the Kagera Eco-Cities subsidiary, the sect had signed a memorandum of understanding with a Chinese company, Paradise Investment Consultation Services, to construct the free trade zone.
The commission, headed by Prof. Nelson Sewankambo, was set up by President Yoweri Museveni in April. It commenced public hearings on Thursday, which are being conducted at the former Prisons senior officers’ mess on Buganda Road.
The commission is investigating whether the activities of the Serulanda group benefit the community, following complaints that the group operates as a cult.
Ssentongo said he, as well as Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi, had been invited by the Chinese investors to travel to China at the end of this month.
He said he had not received any complaints from the Catholic, Anglican or Muslim religious leaders about the Serulanda group’s activities.
Ssentongo added that the group initiated projects in brick making and processing of herbal medicine 15 years ago, but they had collapsed because of lack of support from the locals.
The group also plans to set up an international airport to boost trade and transport, revive the piers on Lake Victoria and set up a cyber village on 200 square miles of land, he said.
Ssentongo said over the years, the hostility from the community subsided and the Serulanda spiritual leader, Bambi Baaba, who lives in Virginia in the US, had expressed interest to return to the country to help in fulfilling the aspirations of his religious group.
While tracing the background of the religious sect, Kyotera County MP Pius Mugizi said the group began as a company during the 1980s and lured job seekers who later became followers.
He urged the Government to support the religious sect’s economic aspirations aimed at creating employment opportunities in the district.