Fire Guts Mapeera Church in Kigungu

The  Police in Kigungu, Entebbe are probing a suspected arson night fire at the Mapeera Church.     

The fire that reportedly started at about 10 pm on Thursday was limited to the left-hand corner of the presbytery.  It consumed part of the short storage board in which fathers’ cassocks and mass wear, table cloths, alter cups, wine and other materials used during mass were destroyed.

The loss, according to Jane Nakafeero Lukwago, a church member and area councillor at Entebbe Division B estimated the loss to be over ten million.

“Those chalices (alter cups) you see cost 2.5 million for the one of wine and the other goes for shs 3 million.  The mass robe for the priest goes for between 300,000 and 500,000.  So when you see all that was lost it could be in the range of ten million and above,” Nakafeero explained.  She ruled out power being the source of the fire.

Capt Fernandez Mugisha Alexander, the head of laity at Bugongo-Entebbe Parish under which Kigungu sub-parish is administered together with his deputy Mr Stephen Nyakana expressed shock and anger.

“I got the news that the Church had been burnt by unknown people.  Unfortunately, a House of God can be desecrated like this.  This is how people get generational curses,” Capt. Mugisha said.

“Police have been brought on board and we may not say much as of now.  … I feel sorry and I pray that God will help us recover and put back what has been lost.  But we thank God that the whole church was not affected because it could have been lost,” Capt. Mugisha explained, guarding against pointing fingers at the time.

There were reports that the church had made plans to fence off the shrine and the land surrounding it to secure and further develop it, a development that could see those who have been operating all kinds of business there affected.

“Yes it is true we do have big plans and have had a word with the mayor and our superiors at the (Kampala Arch) diocese and they gave us a go-ahead.  It is not only good for faith but also for tourism because this is a historical site.   This is where Mapeera landed when he first came to Uganda (1879) and is the origin of our (Catholic) faith,” Capt Mugisha added.  

The incident comes at a time when the shrine sub parish is organizing the sub-parish day scheduled for November 24th, 2024.

Richard Ssekyondo, Entebbe Division B LC III chairman and Justice and Peace leader of the Catholic Church’s Entebbe Vicariate also visited the scene and criticized the possible perpetrators of the arson.  

“If it is the development that is causing this then I would advise those people to repent because they have been working here using the church land without paying anything and the church has never demanded anything from them, if development has come that is not how they should respond,” Ssekyondo said.

Ssempeera Sulait, area representative on Wakiso district council said this was the second time suspected vandalism is happening at the shrine. “Last year they broke the Church and made away with several items.  But this time I don’t know it is happening when there’s talk of fencing off the area. … If it is the people (working from shrine land) affected I think they should find alternatives instead of fighting the Church.  They are fighting God,” Ssempeera stressed.

URN was informed later by the police that Packets of Ostias (unleavened wheat bans used during mass) had been found thrown in Kyondo a suburb in a seemingly abandoned house, which police said could give some leads in investigations.

Police also said a loose window at the back of the Church could have been used by the arsonist to access the Church.   

It was intimated that the perpetrator knew the church so well that the damage was only done to where the most valued and valuable items were.