By Michael Atwakiire
Sheema: A bishop in western Uganda has been suspended over allegations of fraud. Rev. Boaz Turyabahika, the Bishop Full Gospel churches in Sheema, Bushenyi, Mitooma and Buhweju districts was last week suspended over fraud.
Information we got from a reliable source in the Bishop’s office indicates that Turyabahika was suspended by the Archbishop of Full Gospel Churches in Uganda Rt. Rev. Kinantaama, over allegations that he was faking his followers by promising to give them juicy jobs. It is alleged that several people from the above districts gave millions of shillings to Bishop Turyabahika after he promised to get for them expensive jobs from abroad which he didn’t get. It is said that Turyabahika started this scam after some whites from abroad belonging to Full Gospel Church came to Uganda to visit several Full Gospel Churches. During their visit, they used to give free gifts like Bibles to Christians, a chance Turyabahika used to convince staunch followers that he would get them jobs through the whites. However, as time went on without Turyabahika fulfilling his promise, three followers (names withheld on request) reported the matter to the office of the Archbishop in Kampala, who decided to suspend Turyabahika as investigations into the alleged fraud continue.
This reporter tried talking to Turyabahika through his mobile phone line and the Bishop said thus; ” I will follow whoever publishes this story, give it time until I call you to tell you what to write, we have procedures to follow.” When asked whether he was suspended or not, he immediately cut off the line and refused to answer subsequent calls. Amon Kamukama, the head of Laity at Full Gospel Churches in Sheema district told us that it’s true he was suspended. “It’s true he was suspended but it’s not that he was expelled. He is still a servant of God until his issues are sorted out by the committee which was selected by the archbishop. When the archbishop came, he appointed Rev. Pascal Bayambana from Rwenkobe Full Gospel church as the new Bishop of Sheema.” Kamukama said. Turyabahika is now serving as pastor at Nyakarama Full Gospel Church and his suspension came when he was nearly receiving the presidential pledge of a car. Turyabahika was appointed as the Bishop in 2013, replacing retired Bishop Joseph Rubogo, who had served for so many years but retired due to age.
