Eleven suspects including three senior police officers were arrested today morning over the demolition of St. Peter’s Church of Uganda, Ndeeba, Kampala. The officers that were arrested are SP David Epedu, Katwe District Police Commander (DPC) , ASP Mugira Yeko Kato, OC Station Ndeeba Police Station, and ASP Isabirye Kaloli, Field Force Unit (FFU) Commander KMP/South Region .
According to Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson Patrick Onyango, Katwe Police Station got information of the demolition at 0100 hours yesterday and a team was dispatched to the scene. Christians woke up to find a demolished church in a place where the church stood for over 40 years.
“Police were not informed about the eviction and demolition as the practice is the team found people demolishing the said church and arrested 11 suspects,”said Onyango.
Onyango cited the other suspects as Kawooya Mohammad, Bbosa Muniru, Kiberu Amza, Mutebi Abbasi, Bulega Ali, Matovu Simon ,Kalika Ali, Mujuzi Andrew, Ssekito Badru, Isirinya John and Maruti Bashir. He said they are currently detained at Katwe Police Station to help with investigations.
“The suspects are charged with malicious damage to properties.Police impounded two motor vehicles that was recovered from the scene and these are Reg. No. UAY 796N canta white loaded with metals,UBG 682Q Tractor/ Engineering plant (excavator),”he added.
He noted that the force has also arrested Police Officers who were supposed to provide security to Church properties but failed to do so.
These include, DPC Katwe, SP Epedu David .
“They are being charged with neglect of duty.We want to warn the general public who are planning to evict people during this period of COVID-19 that they risk being arrested and charged in courts of law if they go ahead with their intentions,” Onyango said.