KABALE – Pentecostal church leaders in the Kigezi sub-region have expressed strong concerns about the harsh treatment by the police while carrying out their religious duties.
During a one-day Pentecostal leaders conference organized by Moses Ssali Centurion Ministries in collaboration with Lift Up Jesus Church Kabale at Lift Up Jesus Church in Kabale Municipality on Friday, Pastor Anthony Luliisa of Miracle Center Churches in the western region expressed his dismay about the actions of police officers who frequently disrupt and arrest Pentecostal pastors during their divine duties.
Pastor Luliisa pointed out that pastors, like other religious leaders, deserve respect from law enforcement. He emphasized that pastors are no longer antiquated individuals but learned men and women of God who merit recognition in their ministry.
He urged police officers to cease the practice of disgracing Pentecostals, asserting that it is time for them to serve God as freely as other religious groups.
CUE IN PASTOR LULIISA…..ON POLICE……ENG//
Pastor Onesmus Ngoboka, the head of Gods Embassy Ministries in Rukungiri District, stressed the importance of collaborative efforts between the police and church leaders to combat terrorism in the region.
CUE IN PASTOR NGOBOKA…..ON TERRORISM…….ENG//
In response to these concerns, the Kigezi region police spokesperson, Elly Maate, clarified that the police do not discriminate based on tribes, religious affiliations, country, or political affiliations during their operations and arrests. Instead, they target individuals involved in criminal activities.
CUE IN MAATE….ON RESPONSE…..RR//
According to Ssali Moses, the Patron of Moses Ssali Centurion Ministries, the conference focused on the theme “The roles of Pentecostal leaders in collaborating with the police to create a crime-free society, promoting development in the community.”
The conference aimed to provide a platform for interaction between pastors and police, reminding pastors of their crucial roles within their communities.
Dignitaries present at the conference included Dr. Moses Odongo, the Archbishop of the National Fellowship of Born-Again Pentecostal Churches in Uganda (NFBPC), Bishop Aloysius Kiiza of Lift Up Jesus Global Ministries, and pastors and police officers from the Kigezi region.