Christians in Kabarole ask UPDF to rebuild church destroyed in chopper crash

Kabarole, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Christians of Seek the Lord Ministry International Church in Kabarole district have given the Uganda People’s Defense Forces-UPDF a week’s ultimatum to rebuild their church that was destroyed by a military chopper or compensate them.

The military chopper crashed into the church building on December 30, 2021, while landing at the airfield near the church in Saaka village, Kichwamba sub-county. Pastor Enock Bwengye, who heads the church, says that their church was well-built, furnished, and fully equipped with electricity when it was damaged by the chopper.

Pastor Bwengye says that after the incident, UPDF officials led by the then Mountain Division Commander, Lt-Gen Kayanja Muhanga inspected the church and promised that the UPDF engineering brigade was going to build for them a new one. He however says that nothing has been done since then, despite their pleas to have the church rebuilt.

Christians have since set up a temporary church on a piece of land provided by a well-wisher, which they say is in a sorry state because it leaks whenever it rains. The church now says they have given the UPDF one week to have built their church or compensate them.

On September 24, 2022, a UPDF Mi-24 chopper crashed on the house of 75-year-old Peruth Kabarwani, which is about half a kilometer from Saaka airfield. After the incident, UPDF Mountain Division Spokesperson Maj Peter Mugisa said that UPDF was going to renovate Kabarwani’s house as well as the church. However, this is yet to happen.

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