It was a shock to many Ugandans last week when it emerged that State Minister for Disaster Preparedness, Musa Ecweru, assisted by his bodyguard, identified as Juma Odiope, assaulted the three clergymen accusing them of encroaching on his land located at Wera Town Council.
Now, in the move to reshape his image, Ecweru yesterday met leaders of Church of Uganda Soroti Diocese a meeting that attracted three bishops including the Rt. Rev. Kosea Odongo, the bishop of Soroti Diocese and two other retired bishops; Charles Bernard Ebitu Obaikol and Nicodemus Okile Engwalas of Soroti and Bukedi Dioceses respectively seeking to resolve matters.
Although journalists were not briefed on what transpired in the meeting, TheSpy Uganda has landed on a press statement summarizing the entire meeting thus;
“Church of Uganda Soroti Diocese led by the Rt. Rev. Koseas Odongo, resolved that the slight misunderstanding which had developed between Hon. Musa Ecweru and the clergy of Wera Parish has been resolved amicably and in the spirit of Faith and forgiveness and of which matter had been blown out of proportion”, the statement which has only two paragraphs reads in part.
According to our ever on the alert spy, Capt. Mike Mukula, the NRM National Chairperson for Eastern Uganda, Soroti District Chairperson, Gregory Egunyu, RCC Soroti, Robert Adiama, Amuria District Police Commander and the Resident District Commissioner, all the archdeacons of the diocese and the assaulted clergy were in attendance.
The beaten churchmen are Rev. Simon Peter Olato, the Parish Priest of Wera Church of Uganda and his two lay readers, Benjamin Otasono and Simon Peter Eriku of Aten and St. John churches respectively.
According to reports, the churchmen were found planting cassava and tree seedlings in the land belonging to St. John CoU in Wera. The inputs belong to Operation Wealth Creation- OWC which is partnering with Soroti Diocese.
It’s alleged that the minister, who was within the area (his constituency) was passing by when he saw the clergy and the confirmation candidates working in the garden. According to Rev. Olato, the minister stopped and came to the garden where he started asking questions about the land. He notes that before any responses were given, the minister and his bodyguard started beating them up.
Rev. Olato explained that the minister, personally beat him and slapped the two lay readers before ordering his bodyguard Juma Odiope, to proceed and beat them with a metallic rod.
