Uganda Police Force (UPF) has urged the Inter-Religious Council and all other Faith-based Associations, to put in place “stronger measures of profiling and auditing the activities of all places of worship” following a shocking murder on a church altar as a fake pastor and prophet sought powers from ritualistic sacrifice.
Speaking about the murder, police spokesperson Fred Enanga said the force believes that the intervention by associations of balokole churches “will help guard against such rogue self -styled Prophets, who take advantage of people’s lives, in the search for miracles and divine healing powers.”
MURDER ON THE ALTAR
According to Enanga, Territorial Police in Kiira has arrested and detained a self-styled pastor and his wife on charges of kidnap and murder for ritualistic sacrifice of a four-year-old girl victim.
The suspect has been identified as Prophet Joseph Sserubiri and his wife Felista Namaganda.
The deceased is Nakisuyi Trinity Nabirye Zabella, aged four.
Nakisuyi was a daughter to their landlord, John Mulodi of Kakira Market Zone, Kakira Town Council, in Jinja District.
“Mulodi had rented out a garage to the self-styled prophet, which they turned into a church, called Deliverance and Healing Ministries, Kakira,” said Enanga.
Sserubiri and Namaganda are accused of kidnapping Nakisuyi on September 30. Police says they have since confessed to the murder.
“The suspect Prophet Sserubiri who had disappeared, after the incident of child kidnap, was tracked down and arrested. Together with his wife, they admitted to having murdered the 4-year-old, Nakisuyi Trinity, in the garage turned church for spiritual prowess,” said Enanga.
“They slit the throat of the victim and chopped of her head, which they went and buried in the lake at Wanyange. And the headless body was buried in Kinyomo sugarcane plantation, in Kakira Town Council.”
The deceased’s remains have since been recovered.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Nakisuyi Trinity. The pain and fear she must have endured at the time of the incident, are over whelming, for her age,” said the police publicist.
“We have recovered both the remains of the head and the headless body of the 4-year-old victim and subjected samples for DNA, to establish whether they match. Other exhibits of a blood stained trouser, belonging to the self-styled Prophet and other blood samples from the garage turned church were recovered as well.”
Also arrested and detained is a one Pastor Israel Isma Buyinza, the senior pastor of Deliverance and Healing Ministries, located at Ganda, Nansana, who “allegedly lured him [Sserubiri] into the act.
Enanga pledged police’s committment in following up the case to ensure justice for Nakisuyi and her family.
“We commend the task team of investigators for their efforts, that led to the arrest of the suspects. We shall continue to monitor the progress of the case in the courts of law, to seek justice for the 4-year-old victim,” stated the police spokesperson.
“Despite the progress, the country has made in the fight against Child Sacrifice, this tragic incident clearly shows that the threats are still in existence. Children remain vulnerable if not watched after closely.”
