KAMPALA - Pastor Sirajje Ssemanda of Revival Church Bombo and the man at the centre of sh45bn fraud against pastors and directors of private schools under the Pentecostal Churches of Uganda was arrested escaping with his wife with a four-month breastfeeding baby and a widow.

Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema, the head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) directed for the commencement of the investigations into allegations against Pastor Ssemanda, who is pinned for defrauding pastors and schools. He was arrested after crossing Mutukula border.

Nakalema told journalists that on searching his car after his arrest, the police established that he was escaping with two women and a baby.

Nakalema told journalists during a press conference that on interrogation, it was established that one of the women was Ssemanda's wife, Bennah Namisinga and her elder sister, Maggie Kayima alias Nabbi Omukazi.

Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema speaking to journalists in her office. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

Kayima is one of the widows of the late Pastor Augustine Yiga of the Kawaala Revival Ministries Church who died recently.

Sources revealed that Pastor Ssemanda once worked under Yiga before he broke away to form his Church in Bombo.

According to Nakalema, although the women were under police investigations, they could not detain the breastfeeding mother since there was a likelihood that as a wife, she might have been ignorant about his private activities.

The detectives on Monday took the two women to the Anti-corruption offices at the Parliament building where they were interrogated.

According to Nakalema, the police had so far not found any evidence connecting the women to the fraud, although a Detective informed her that the women were still under police investigations.

The investigators moved with the women and searched their homes and that of the late Pastor Yiga in Kawaala.

Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema (L) speaking to journalists in her office. Right is Commissioner of Police Beata Chelimo and AIGP, Edward Ochom (second right). (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

They also went with the two women to search Ssemanda's Church in Bombo and his rented home.

The women have since distanced themselves from the alleged fraud and told the investigators that they were just escorting him and had no knowledge of the fraud.

The press conference was attended by Assistant Inspector General of Police, Edward Ochom who clarified that Assistant Commissioner of Police, Godfrey Matte, was is linked to Pastor Ssemanda's activities.

Ochom said all the police officers mentioned in the pastor's activities will be subjected to investigations and will be charged if they collect enough evidence against them.