KAMPALA-UGANDA/NEWSDAY: Investigations lawyer Ambrose Tebyasa by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) over allegedly conniving with Dodovico Mwanje a businessman to takeover St. Peter’s Church Ndeeba have gained more momentum with new information coming in.
Col. Nakalema said during an interview on Tuesday that Tebyasa’s actions led to the loss of rights by St. Peters church of land on which it was located, eventually leading to its demolition in August 2020.
Lawyer Ambrose Tebyasa
“We are investigating a lawyer and action will certainly be taken. He was an accomplice in the whole thing,” Nakalema said. ACU arrested Tebyasa in September 2020 attracting the Uganda Law Society (ULS) to call for his release.
New documents show that Tebyasa was the lawyer of the late Namirembe Bishop Dunstan Nsubuga, who helped in starting up the church. The land was donated to Christians by a one Evelyne Nachwa in 1980.
In 2008, some of the siblings of Nachwa litigated the widow of late bishop Dunstan Nsubuga and the Anglican Church in pursuit to remove the church that was said to lack legal ownership documents. These children include Edward Balunga, Dan Ssemwanga, John Kajoba and Steven Nakibinge. As the case progressed, the widow of the bishop denied the land ever belonged to his husband and it was nowhere in his will.
In the line of the ACU’s investigations, it is believed there may have been alteration of the will or coercion of the widow to deny knowledge of husband’s land. This eventually helped to deprive the church of their land and giving way to Dodovico Mwanje of Ephraim Enterprises to take over the land.
St. Peter’s church is located in Lubaga Division in Ndeeba town and was constructed in 1981, after Christians in this area decided to break away from Katwe Martyrs church. The church is under Namirembe diocese. Before it was demolished, it sheltered a school which was the first to be razed last year in March during the start of the lockdown.
President Museveni visit to Ndeeba Church on August 14, 2020. File Photo
Namirembe Diocese bishop Kityo Luwalira described its demolition as an evil act during his visit there.
On August 14, 2020 President Museveni visited the church and said its demolition was a “terrible curse and naturally an abomination”, ordering the arrest of the Dodovico Mwanje who was said to be behind it.
St. Peter’s church is located on block 7 Kibuga, Plot 749 and 750 and was curved plot 39. The church land was initially registered in the names of Evelyn Nacwa who in her August 2, 1980 will indicated that his son John Kajoba takes it over.
Prosecution
The ACU have successfully investigated and adduced evidence that enabled the DPP to institute a case against Mr. Dodovico Mwanje.
The Inspector General of Government Betty Kamya who was minister of lands had been pressing to ensure Dodovico is compensated but court this month stopped the payment of Shs.3.8bn that had been allocated in a February 2021 supplementary budget. But the High court on Monday halted the planned compensation to Dodovodiko Mwanje, on whose orders the structures of the Church were demolished.
Do you want to share a story, comment or opinion regarding this story or others, Email us at newsdayuganda@gmail.com Tel/WhatsApp........0726054858
Discussion about this post