The Archbishop of Church of Uganda, The Most Rev Dr. Samuel Stephen Kaziimba has inspected the site where St Peter’s Church of Uganda in Ndeeba Katwe ll Parish, Mengo Archdeaconry in Namirembe Diocese was demolished on Sunday night.
The Church was demolished following a four-year standoff in Courts of law with a business man Dodovico Mwanje who acquired the piece of land from relatives of the deceased who reportedly handed over the land for establishment of the Church.
He condemned the demolition and prayed for repentance of the perpetrators of the sinful act.
“On behalf of the House of Bishops and all Christians of the Church of Uganda, we express our sincere condolences to the Bishop and people of Namirembe Diocese, and especially those of St. Peter’s Church, Ndeeba, on last night’s destruction of their treasured building and House of Worship. We are grateful that our grandmother, who donated the land for the church, is not alive to see the destruction that has been done to the sacred place she gave as a gift to God.” THE Arch Bishop said
He said “This barbaric act of destruction is evil. If an action can’t be done in broad daylight, then there is something deeply wrong; we have lost respect for God. This destruction of the House of God took place in the darkness of night during a curfew; and, the security forces, who are supposed to uphold the law and guard against destroyers, were allegedly complicit in the destruction of a House of God. Squatters have rights after being on land for 12 years, and yet St. Peter’s Church has been on that land for 40 years. We call for a serious and impartial inquiry into this matter.”
“Lockdown, the Gospel of Jesus Christ has not been locked down. Likewise, the destruction of St. Peter’s Church, Ndeeba, will not deter the Church from preaching the Gospel. Jesus promised us that the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church of Jesus Christ.” (Matthew 16.18)
“We stand in solidarity with the Bishop, Namirembe Diocese, and especially the Christians of St. Peter’s Church. Especially during this time of a global pandemic, the church is needed now more than ever. We assure you of our prayers for a peaceful and just resolution to this tragic situation.” He said
