By Nathan Eyagu
NGORA
A renowned Teso Kickboxer, Okiror Dan aka Power Mike and three others are in police custody for allegedly assaulting Rev. Osire Sam belonging to Reformed Anglican Church and wife of the Lay Leader, Rose Obwin.
The five were arrested yesterday, 12th March, 2023 after they attacked Rev. Osire Sam at Ajeluk village, Ajeluk parish, Mukura Sub County in Ngora District and drove him to police. Power Mike and company reported the matter to police claiming the Reverend was occupying the Church of Uganda house illegally.
Reformed Anglican Church broke away from Church of Uganda, Kumi Diocese and is being led by Rev. Charles Okunya Oode who is the Founder Bishop of Reformed Anglican Church, Upper Nile Diocese.
According the Kyoga East Police Spokesperson, SP Ageca Oscar Gregg in today’s press statement, the group assaulted the Reverend and the wife of the lay leader and maliciously damaged his house.
“They then ‘arrested’ Rev. Osire Sam and took him to police where things turned upside down as instead they got arrested for illegal arrest of the Reverend without recourse to the law and detained as suspects in the matter,” Ageca said.
According to the suspects, they alleged that they were evicting the Reverend from the church of Uganda house with the allegations that since he was no longer a member of the church of Uganda-kumi diocese but a member of the Reformed Anglican church, he was to leave the house allocated by the former.
“In furtherance of the investigative process and in interest of Justice we have arrested the ring Leaders of this act that include one Okello Sam a male adult aged 19 years, Okiror Dan aka Power Mike a male adult and a known kick boxer and one of the persons who acts as security for church of Uganda- Kumi, Opade Emmanuel a male adult, and Oba John a male adult and a civil engineer. All the arrested persons are resident within Kumi district.” Ageca’s statement reads in part.
He said police has also impounded a motor vehicle Tipper white in colour registration number UAF 872Y that was used by the group and belonging to church of Uganda- kumi Diocese.
Ageca says the Reverend sustained a deep cut on the head and has been subjected to Medical examination.
Ageca also added that as police, they would like to remind Christians of the Church of Uganda-kumi Diocese and Reformed Anglicans that Uganda is a country of religious tolerance and the recourse to religion has to be reconciled with the principles of democracy and human rights.
“We as the Police shall arrest any believer found abusing the rights of others in the name of religion,” he says.
He advised the warring parties to seek other forms of dispute resolution to avoid falling foul of the law.
