Pastor Accused Of Raping Tourist Released On Bail.
High Court has granted bail to a Ugandan pastor Joseph Twahirwa Collins who had been remanded on allegations of rape.
On Wednesday 1st, March, the Deputy Registrar Mr. Nsenga Festo granted the cash bail of Ugx. 1 million and ordered the defendant to hand in his passport to court and also report to court every three weeks. His sureties were also ordered to pay a cashless bond of Ugx. 5million.
Joseph of the Bugolobi-based Epikaizo Ministries International, is accused by the Latvian tourist Anda Saulite of having unlawful carnal knowledge without her consent on 12th December, 2022 in Munyonyo, Kampala. While giving an account of the fateful day, Anda narrated how the pastor who she says wanted to have a baby with her ‘pushed me on the bed and raped me’.
The victim reveals that she reported the case at Jinja Road Police Station but was frustrated because they allegedly wanted her to fuel the police car or have sexual relations with her. She later informed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations who told her that she was ‘playing with a man who has big people around’.
In a statement given at CID, Anda said that she had been invited to Uganda by the pastor and on 12th December, 2022. When she arrived at the accused’s home, the accused allegedly confiscated her passport number LV4336528, robbed her of $300 and €400 before eventually raping her.
Twahirwa was arrested in January together with three other police detectives St. Doreen Oyera, Cpl. Judith Akite and Constable Joyce Ayereget, all from Jinja Road police station for conspiring with the pastor to ensure Anda left Uganda as soon as possible since her visa was expiring on January 16. They were charged with irregular conduct contrary to section 44 of the Police Act
While applying for the bail, Pastor Joseph’s lawyers noted that their client suffers from a heart disease which cannot be managed while he is in detention.
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