President Museveni Vows to Resolve Ndeeba Church Land Wrangle

President Yoweri Museveni has promised to meet church leaders to resolve the matter of the demolished St. Peter's Church in Ndeeba in Uganda's capital Kampala.

While visiting Ndeeba on Friday, the President lashed out at the people involved in razing the religious facility, saying it is a sin or curse to destroy a church.

"I am saddened by this incident and I give the church assurances that those complicit will be punished. Even if the church was in the wrong, ordering demolition was extreme. Dialogue would have resolved this matter," the President said in a statement posted on his social media platforms. 

He added: "Judges should have limits and understand public interest. Demolishing a church is a curse. Also, ignore reports of those claiming the government demolished the church."

He pledged to meet the parties involved as a permanent solution is pursued.

"I am going to invite the Namirembe Diocese Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira, and engage with all parties involved in this conflict to find a lasting solution.

The bottom line is that the Church will retain this land and we shall build a new church. I have now joined this war.

I also noticed large groups of people gathering in Ndeeba as I inspected the site. This is wrong. Avoid crowding in light of the Covid-19 pandemic that we are grappling with," Mr Museveni said.

The four-decade-old church was knocked down Sunday night, reportedly over a protracted wrangle between the church leadership and a businessman only identified as Dodovico.

Its demolition has sparked off a lot of public reaction as well as the intervention of various agencies, including the Police, religious leaders and State House. A number of Police officers have since been arrested as investigations continue.