national 4 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Rukungiri Pastor Arrested for Alleged Assault of Church Secretary
A pastor in Rukungiri District, identified as Felix Ayebare, has been apprehended by police following accusations of assaulting the church secretary, Joan Byomuhangi, during a heated disagreement over church funds. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/rukungiri-pastor-arrested-over-alleged-assault-of-church-secretary-5584358
Police in Rukungiri District have arrested Pastor Felix Ayebare of Kyarusongyera Anointed Church in connection with the alleged assault of the church secretary, Joan Byomuhangi.
The incident reportedly took place on August 30th at the church premises. According to police reports, the dispute arose when Pastor Ayebare allegedly took money from the collection basket before it could be properly counted.
This action led to a confrontation with Ms. Byomuhangi, 34, the church secretary. During the altercation, the pastor is accused of physically assaulting Ms. Byomuhangi, including hitting and boxing her. Furthermore, he is alleged to have grabbed her mobile phone and thrown it to the ground, causing damage to both the front and back of the device.
Kigezi Regional Police spokesperson SP Nelson Tumushime stated that prior to the alleged assault, Pastor Ayebare had accused Ms. Byomuhangi of obstructing his access to church funds and had issued threats against her.
Pastor Ayebare is currently in police custody as investigations into the matter are ongoing. Police have issued a stern warning to religious leaders, emphasizing that the freedom of worship does not permit violence, fraud, or extortion. They affirmed that any religious leaders found engaging in criminal activities will face arrest and prosecution under Ugandan law.