Court issues criminal summons to Dodoviko

The Makindye Chief Magistrate has issued criminal summons against Ndeeba businessman Dodoviko Mwanje alias Dodo Owiny and a senior Police officer to appear in court in connection with the demolition of St Peter's Church.

Dodoviko went into hiding on Sunday August 9, after he allegedly hired graders and youth from Kisenyi to demolish the 40-year-old church located in Mutaawe zone, Rubaga division in the suburbs of Kampala city, following a land dispute.

Also being sought by court is Superintendent of Police (SP) Martin Odero, the zonal commander of the Field Force Unit (FFU) Police, Kampala Metropolitan South.

SP Odero was deputy commandant Police Training School, Kabalye in Masindi before he was transferred to Kampala Metropolitan Police area. Odero and Dodoviko did not appear in court together with  despite appearing on the charge sheet.

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said Odero and Dodoviko were still at large and efforts were still being made to locate them, adding that if they do not appear in court on August 24, a warrant of arrest will be issued against them.

The demolition, which shocked the nation and left Christians in tears, was effected between 12:00am and 4:00am during the curfew and was witnessed by heavily-armed Police, eyewitnesses said.

The next morning, the Police arrested 11 suspects from the scene and detained them at Katwe Police Station.

President Yoweri Museveni directed the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, headed by Lt Col Edith Nakalema, to hold whoever was involved, accountable.

Consequently, the Inspector General of Police, Martins Okoth Ochola ordered the arrest of Police officers who either neglected their duty or conspired in the demolition. The officers arrested included the Katwe DPC, SP David Epedu; OC Ndeeba Police ASP Yeko Mugira and ASP Kalooli Isabirye, attached to the Field Force Unit, Kampala Metropolitan South.

Nakalema later directed the arrest of Ivan Katongole, the Kampala Capital City Authority acting director of physical planning.

The officers and the 11 youth last week appeared in court in Makindye and were remanded to Kitalya Prisons till August 24. According to the summons, signed by the Makindye Chief magistrate Prosy Katushabe, Dodoviko and Odero are supposed to appear in court on the same day, August 24.

Meanwhile, the Police on Friday released on bond Moses Kirunda, a court bailiff who was arrested last Wednesday on allegations of taking part in the demolition of the church.

Kirunda, who was interrogated by detectives attached to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), denied having participated in razing the church, although he admitted that he was hired by Dodoviko to carry out the eviction.

In other developments, Christians, led by Patrick Wakkoonyi, their leader, have gone ahead to clear the debris to pave the way for the reconstruction of the church. "Our focus is to clear the site as we look forward to building another church," Wakkoonyi said, adding that they will continue to pursue the matter in court.