LUWEERO- Police in Luweero District have arrested four people and recovered a decomposing body of a 5-month baby in a house where a pastor and her followers were conducting prayers in an attempt to restore the life of the child.
Acting on a tipoff from the Local Council One chairman of Lukyamu Village in Butuntumula Sub-county, Mr Juma Kisitu, police officers at Luweero police station on Thursday rushed to the home of Pastor Viola Nasanga, where they recovered the decomposing body.
Janet Nakayange, Edith Nabule and Lazaro Walakira, who were found at Pastor Nasanga’s prayer centre, were also arrested.
Pastor Nasanga told police that they were praying and waiting for the voice of God to restore the life of the baby.
“This is a very unfortunate incident which police is now investigating. We have tentatively preferred a case of murder against the suspects as investigations continue.
We have transported the body to Mulago Hospital Mortuary where a pathologist will conduct a postmortem before it’s handed over to relatives,”Mr Benson Byaruhanga, the Luweero District Police Commander said on Friday.
He said the baby identified as Anita Kwagala could have died more than two weeks ago.
Mr John Paul Kibalama, the Butuntumula Sub-county chairman, in a telephone interview said he got information from residents of Lukyamu village that Pastor Nasanga, a Tanzanian national has been conducting prayers in a rented room belonging to Mr Lazaro Walakira.
Ms Biira Asineyi, the mother of the dead child told police that she took her daughter to Pastor Nasanga after learning from a friend that prayers could restore the life of her child.
She alleged that on September 30, they heard a mysterious voice instructing them to move out of the house and allow God to restore the life of the baby. They reportedly stayed outside the house forthwith.
Ms Caroline Nankabirwa, a resident of Lukyamu village told the Daily Monitor that Pastor Nasanga has been attracting several people to pray with her.
“People come and join her for prayers. We know her as a Tanzanian citizen although she changed her name original name to Nasanga, Ms Nankabirwa said.
By Daily Monitor
