By Hamilah Ntanda
KABAROLE: Police in Kabarole District, Western Uganda are investigating the murder of a 30-year-old pastor of a local Pentecostal church who was stoned to death by residents of Igogonya village after they allegedly found him at the murder scene of one of their colleagues gunned down by unknown assailants.
Pastor Julius Mugisa of God’s Power Revival Healing Church Kikoyo was attacked by a mob at Igogonya village on Friday on allegations that he participated in the shooting of one Tobias Komunda, 30.
The fallen man of God was a resident of from Kikoyo village in Kyamuhoro ward, Kibasi town council in Kabarole District where he founded the church.
Rwenzori west region police spokesperson, Mr. Vincent Twesige quoting eyewitnesses said the cleric was seen in the company of four other people driving to Komunda’s home at Igogonya village at around 5 pm.
“It’s alleged that a group of five unknown people traveling in a white vehicle with an unknown registration plate went to the home of the deceased (Komunda) at around 5 pm. They all went behind the house of Komunda where they spent about 30 minutes haggling. They developed a misunderstanding before Komunda told them to leave his home. He (Komunda) attempted to pelt them with a stone but he was shot in the head and died,” Mr. Vincent Twesige said quoting witness statements recorded by the police.
According to police statements, the assailants, including a woman, jumped into the waiting vehicle and sped away, leaving Pastor Mugisa behind. He was, however, reportedly intercepted by angry residents as he also attempted to flee from the murder scene.
“The pastor fled from the scene but he had already been identified by the residents who were responding to the gunshots. He was attacked and beaten by a large number of angry residents who overpowered the area police officers trying to rescue him,” Mr. Twesige added.
Preliminary police findings indicate that the two deceased persons and the other four assailants at large were involved in an illegal transaction that they failed to agree on how to share.
“The deceased (Tobias Komunda and Julius Mugisa) and other assailants knew each other before the incident. They had a disagreement over an unknown illegal transaction where they failed to share equally because one of the daughters of the deceased (Komunda) overheard them (assailants) demanding for their shares,” he said.
The Kibasi town council chairman, Mr. Posiano Ategeka, said he was shocked to learn that Pastor Mugisa was killed by a mob after being implicated in Kamunda’s murder.
“The deceased pastor had a lot of followers. He had invited me to his church as chief guest at a fundraising ceremony last Sunday but I failed to attend because I was busy. I am still shocked about the circumstances under which he denied it,” said Mr. Ategeka.
Police managed to recover two bullet cartridges; one of an SMG rifle and another of a pistol as well as one live ammunition of SMG from the scene where Komunda was shot dead.
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