By Kabuye Ronald
The Chief Magistrates court of Kira has acquitted the presiding Bishop for the Evangelical Orthodox Church (EOC) in Uganda and leader of Mamre Prayer Centre Namugongo, Janda Jacinto Kibuuka of aggravated torture charges of Othieno Denis Mukisa.
While acquitting Bishop Kibuuka, the trial magistrate Rose Nsenge said that the evidence brought before court indicated that the day and the time Bishop Kibuuka is accused of torturing the victim at Mamre prayer centre in Namugongo, he was in Mitala Maria, Mpigi district at the church’s seminary opening the new semester program.
“The investigating officer in her sworn testimony and statement failed to place the accused Bishop Kibuuka at the scene of crime. She told court that she was summoned by her boss Madam Komwaka who assigned her to go Mamre Prayer centre. On reaching the venue she asked for the whereabouts of the accused she was told he is not around. She asked several people who told her he was in Mitala Maria which prompted her to call him but he told her he was in Mitala Maria “reads part of the ruling
The magistrate also said that there was a lot of contradictions and inconsistencies in the prosecution case glaring seen in the statements of the victim Othieno who first told journalists that the accused beat him but didn’t indicate the same in the police statement and during cross examinations but rather maintained that he was beaten Ali, Tofa, Davis and Michael.
She also stated that none of the prosecution witnesses located the accused Bishop Kibuuka at the scene of crime or at the victim’s home where they took the victim after being beaten but only assert that they were just told.
“The Victim while giving his sworn testimony before court stated that he was beaten by bishop Kibuuka with davis, Ali, Michael and Tofa. However during cross examination, the victim informed court that in his police statement exhibited as DEXI he did not inform the police that he was beaten by Bishop Kibuuka and he also admitted to have written a letter exhibited as EXD2 where he stated that it was not Bishop Kibuuka who beat him but Davis, Ali, Michael and Tofa. This testimony is corroborated by the testimony the mother (Nakalyango Juliet) who stated that the victim told her that he was not beaten by Bishop Kibuuka but was beaten by Davis, Ali, Michael and Tofa. “Reads part of the judgement.
Bishop Jacinto Kibuuka was on 25th, August 2022 charged with the offence of aggravated torture and remanded to luzira prison for two weeks. The particulars of the offence being that on the 22nd/ August/ 2022 at Mamre Prayer Centre at Namugongo, Kira Municipality in Wakiso District inflicted injuries on Othieno Denis Mukisa causing him grievous harm accusing him for having stolen his money which the court found to be untrue.
BISHOP JACINTO KIBUUKA FORGIVES EVERYONE WHO TARNISHED HIS NAME
During his thanksgiving Divine Liturgy prayers which was attended by thousands of the Christians Bishop Jacinto Kibuuka in his emotional speech said that he has forgiven every person who was behind the ill move to put him down and the Church as well.
Bishop Kibuuka who at certain during his speech broke down in tears said despite the damage that has been done to him in character assassination allover the world he has chosen to forgive.
“I thank God for seeing me through the challenges and the battles because the tormentors s wanted me to be handed a life imprisonment and unfortunately some of them are the so called religious leaders who are wolfs and bandits but I have forgiven them and I thank the Almighty God for leading us through all this because nobody ever imagined that I will be acquitted but God has made it happen again “Said Kibuuka
Bishop Kibuuka also said that nobody will ever make them loose focus on serving God, revealing that on the 12, November, 2023 they are going to consecrate three more Bishops who will further God’s work in the Evangelical Orthodox Church in Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. They include: Rev. Fr. Bruno Ssekiryamuba Muhindo, Rev. Fr. John Baptist Matovu and Rev. Fr. Joseph Birungi Bizibu
He furthermore appealed to Government to appoint more judges and magistrates to handle the cases in the judiciary since so many people are being accused falsely and those who are guilt should have their cases expeditiously heard and disposed of.
