By George Bukenya
Police in Mityana District have arrested and detained four suspects including a Pentecostal church Pastor for allegedly sabotaging the National Population Census activity at Naama Central, Busimbi Division, Mityana Municipality.
According to Wamala Region Police spokesperson, SP Rachael Kawala, the incident occurred on 16th Thursday May, 2024 when an enumerator went to Pastor Samuel Kalibbala’s church to perform his duty but only to be obstructed from the lawful exercise.
Kawala said that Pastor Kalibbala was with three elderly people and when the enumerator asked them to move out such that he could count them; they refused and told him that they don’t believe in government program of census that they believe in Jesus only.
After refusing to be counted despite the enumerator’s plea and explanation, they then locked themselves inside church premises in protest, this prompted the enumerator to report the matter to police which swung into action and arrested the suspects.
“ I want to confirm that we arrested the suspects and we are going to charge them for obstructing a lawful government activity.’’ Kawala said in a press statement she released.
She further revealed that the four suspects have since recorded statements and inquiries into the matter are still on going.
Pastor Kalibbala and the other three suspects identified as Kitika Joseph, Nakamate Grace and Nabasirye Shamim are still detained at Mityana Central Police Station waiting to be committed to court.
The in law in Uganda stipulates that anyone who dodges deliberately, Saboteurs or obstruct the National Housing and Population exercise is liable to a punishment of serving six months in prison or pay a fine of UGX 600,000 or serve both once convicted.