Africa-Press – Uganda. The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP), Maj Gen Geoffrey Tumusiime Katsigazi, has warned Anglicans in Kumi District against inciting violence.
The Deputy IGP intervened after complaints that Christians belonging to the Church of Uganda Kumi Diocese and those affiliated to the Bishops of the Reformed Anglican Church of Upper Nile Diocese have continued to attack each other in the past months.
In a meeting last Thursday, Maj Gen Katsigazi said the violence exhibited by members of the two churches had reached unacceptable levels and had attracted the attention of all the security agencies in the country.
He thereafter ordered security personnel to arrest all perpetrators of violence including the Bishops, if such activities continue.
“I will arrest anyone destabilising my people regardless of your position. Stand warned. Stop cutting my people,” the Deputy IGP said, during a meeting attended by bishops, security personnel, religious leaders from the different denominations, and area leaders.
Anglicans have been divided into two, those who follow Rev Charles Okunya Oode of the Reformed Anglican Church and those who support Bishop Mike Esakan Okwii of the Church of Uganda Kumi Diocese.
During the meeting, Bishop Esakan accused Kumi Woman MP Christine Apolot, Bukedea County MP Bosco Ikojo and some Members of the opposition party Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) of fuelling the dispute.
However, FDC and the MPs have dismissed Bishop Esakan’s allegations, calling them baseless.
“As FDC party, we are not a religious organisation, so we work with everybody regardless of his or her religious affiliation,” Mr Paul Omer, the FDC presidential envoy for Teso and Karamoja, said.
Bishop Okunya, who called for reconciliation, said: “These people have spent billions of money to fight me. I pray that one day they come to their senses and stop it so that sanity prevails.”
He accused the Province of the Church of Uganda of messing up Kumi Diocese.
The Resident State Attorney for Kumi, Christine Kajja Byamigisha, said: “Let these churches be closed until sanity prevails.”
But the Deputy IGP said for now, the churches can continue operating as they solve their issues and report to him in two months’ time.
Joseph Orokode, an opinion leader, commended the Deputy IGP for intervening where the church has failed.
Mr Simon Opolot, an Anglican in Kumi, has urged Christians to unite and rebuild the house of God.
“I implore Christians to get over any form of bitterness and slander against the Church.”
The dispute emerged after the House of Bishops refused to consecrate Rev Okunya as bishop for Kumi Diocese after he was elected in 2019.
Rev Okunya together with his followers, thereafter joined the Reformed Anglican Church and he was consecrated bishop in 2022.
For More News And Analysis About Uganda Follow Africa-Press
