Pastor Arrested For Human Trafficking
The territorial police in Mukono District and Bulenga together with the CID Anti-Human Trafficking Department are holding custody of a pastor and two others on accusations of recruiting and confinement of 18 victims.
The pastor, identified as Jackline Kisoma 34, was arrested together with her husband Daniel Kisoma 42, and their neighbor Edward Giita 48, were harboring their victims at their rented house which also acted as their place of worship at Nakuwadde Village.
According to police, the church operated as a religious cult and it was never registered. The leaders are accused of manipulating their followers into leaving school because they claimed education was useless.
“Four students from St. Francis Nursing School in Namataba – Mukono were forced to leave school. The suspects had also withdrawn their eight children from school,” SCP Enanga Fred, the police spokesperson said during his presser.
The victims were held against their will and completely separated from the rest of the community. They were reportedly banned from moving out or even visiting health centers in case they fell ill but instead spent the whole day and night praising, worshipping and immersed in Bible lessons.
The arrest comes after a mother of one of the victims identified as Martha Adulu, 21, noticed her daughter was not at school when she went visiting at St. Francis Nursing School. She had reportedly left school two months ago and upon search; she was tracked down at Nakuwadde village in Bulenga.
Her other three colleagues Angel Nampeera 19, Kwagala Nakiganda 23 and Favor Nagitta 18 were all recovered at the same place. The police also rescued Giita Edward, a tailor in Nakuwadde, his wife Nakintu Gitta Justice together with their 3 children among others.
“This is the plight that many victims in religious face see the leaders as a god-like figure, which they fear to go against. All the 15 other victims are in a shelter home undergoing counseling and rehabilitation. The file was submitted to the DPP for legal guidance on the charges of human trafficking and unlawful confinement. The female victims were meanwhile undergoing medical examinations to help prove or disprove any acts of sexual violence.” Enanga said.
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