Gen. Okiding added that the church has turned out to be the hiding ground where the wicked including corrupt politicians are glorified because of the huge envelopes and gifts they offer.
Lieutenant General Sam Okiding, the deputy chief of Defense Forces for the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF), has called on religious leaders to rally behind leaders to curb crime.
Gen. Okiding was speaking in Ateuso Village, Akoromit Sub
County in Kapelebyong district during the burial of Faith Joan Apio, a pupil
who was killed in Jozan Nursery and Primary School in Soroti city.
“I’m requesting religious leaders. I don’t blame you, but you have relaxed,” Gen. Okiding started in a calm voice. He noted that religious leaders' love for money has put many lives at stake since most wrongdoers hide in churches.
“You are the chosen ones by God to serve Him and guide His
people- your flock. But you have turned your attention to cash envelopes. I have
witnessed, many times; the wicked including killers going to church with envelopes. You find the reverend jumping and clapping for such people- very
excited. Yet, amidst us the flock, we know that he is a killer. Why can’t the
religious leaders invite such people and openly tell them about their wickedness and
reject those cash envelopes?”
Ateso bite translated above.
// cue in “Yesi itunga lu…
Cue out…mam isio ikoto.”//
Gen. Okiding added that the church has turned out to be the hiding
ground where the wicked including corrupt politicians are glorified because of
the huge envelopes and gifts they offer.
“We see the wicked being glorified by the
church leaders every day. They are the ones with special seats in churches.
They are the ones buying for the church leaders and choir members uniforms,
clothes, and other gifts. We thought you had the divine spirit to tell evil from
good. We thought you had the power to tame…why have you stopped condemning evil?”
According to Gen. Okiding, the killing of the pupil opened
the room for deeper investigations that he noted require special operations to curb
the vice in the Teso sub-region.
“Joan has paid the price for the redemption in Teso. People
have confessed, including the daughter of the killer who is a woman,” he
revealed.
However, the religious leaders say that some of the evil
practices are not known to the church leaders. Bishop Sam Eibu Okiror of
Baptist Church in Teso and Karamoja says they preach against sin to all but the
leaders may not know what individual Christians do in their personal
lives and engagements in businesses.
Bishop Eibu and other leaders from Pentecostal
churches called for the press conference to condemn the gruesome incident in
Soroti. The group of four leaders came to speak after the requiem mass on Sunday
where the Soroti Resident City Commissioner, Peter Pex Paak revealed that the
child was used as human ritual sacrifice by the individuals in custody.
// cue in “I am condemning…
Cue out…this kind of act.”//
But Bishop James Israel Tukei of Light Resurrection
Ministries in Soroti City said that they will continue to preach the true gospel
about Christ and God in heaven will judge his people.
// cue in “We are going…
Cue out…will haunt you.”//
Joan was laid to rest with thousands of people across the
region including ministers, Emorimor, and security heads in the regions calling
for justice.
The police have since arrested six people including the
director of the school, Joseph Okedi, his wife, Suzan Vivian Okedi; the
headteacher, David Kadimba, the matron, Osula Adongo and another teacher plus
Okedi’s brother whose names are yet to be established.
