By Our Writer
The Deputy RCC Jinja Southern Division , Martin Wansozi Basalirwa has ordered the closure of Holy Ministriers church after its propriator pastor Yusuf Muwanguzi failed to produce registrartion papers and its embroidment into land wrangles which left three people burnt to death three years ago.
The closure was announced in a security meeting on Tuesday attended by the RCC Basalirwa, police and the seniorpresidential assistant in charge of special dutiees Mrs Phiona Barungi.
The meeting followeed a petition by Mr James Bagaga 60 to Mrs Barungi claiming that Muwanguzi came as a tenant on his land grabbed it after police opened up murder and arson charges on him and his famile following a deadly fire in …………..20 which gutted the church.
Bagaga said the fire which claimed three lives came at a time when Muwanguzi was having disagreements with him after he refused to pay rent. Bagaga ,his wife Monica Kyazike and their son a juvinile were arrested and imprisoned for two years until Jinja High court released them for luck of evidence. But returned to find Muwanguzi had taken over their land. Courts efforts to reclaim his land failed when Muwanguzi refude to honour a court order recntly. This forced Bagaga to seek assistence from Mrs Barungi’s office who caused the meeting.
However Muwanguzi who sometimes claims he works with the office of the president didnot attend ttge meeting but was represented by his security assistant Mr Kirabo Mulonde.Mulondo who claims to be soldire was questioned about his identification as a security personel and failed forcing police to arrest him, He was found in possession of a battoon,army shoes and a scouts uniform.
RCC Basalirwa said a church which swas embroided in such wrangles with out proper registration and attracting many people couldnot be allowede to operate in the area ,
” We have had such problems of churches which operate below standards of registration. That wa stghe case with Kibwetere ‘s Restoration church.We are therefore closing this church until Muwanguzi proves to us its fully registered and also desists from these land wrangles. said Basalirwa.
He directde followers who had come to be prayed for to return to their homes and the sick to go healthy facilitities.The church is located in Mpumudde ward,Kaguta Road.
Bagaga told the meeting that Muwanguzi came in 2015 as his tenant paying 800,000 per months but later refused to pay him . He bought a small plot next to the his land and startedenchroaching on on him When he tried to stop him he threatened him that he was connected.
He said after years of disagreements fire gutted his church killing three people and ha was named the first suspect together with his wife and son and was imprisoned and when he came back Muwanguzi had taken over.
Barungi after lisetening to Bagaga , police and residebnts and LCS of the area asked police and relevant authorities to emnforce the court order which gave back Bagaga his land.She also asked that the matter of death by arson be re investigated .
The LCII chairman David Luba Hannington said ever since Muwanguzi came to tyhe area they have been having issues with him sometimes calling him self an employ in tghe office of the president.
He said he is always having police protection at his church making it diffuclt for them to approach him.
But the OC Mpumudde police said that when he was posted to the area he found the church being guarded by policemen and he continued providing it with security. He said police deployment started aftre fire gutted the church .