Rukungiri District is reeling from shocking allegations against Pastor Bosco Mubangyizi Kahigyi, the founder of Jerusalem Church. The pastor is accused of impregnating a young worshipper and coercing her into an abortion, sparking outrage among the community.
The victim, a resident of Nyakabungo in Buyanja Sub-county, revealed that Pastor Kahigyi exploited her under the guise of supporting her education. Speaking at Rukungiri Police Station, where she and her father, Enock Muronda, recorded statements, the girl described how the pastor manipulated her into sexual relations.
The victim disclosed that Pastor Kahigyi initially promised to educate her and took her to various church conferences across Rukungiri, Kihihi, Ntungamo, and other districts. During this time, he reportedly rented accommodations for her in an effort to conceal their activities.
The situation came to light when Pastor Kahigyi, accompanied by his wife Elizabeth Kahigyi, a police officer, and another church member, Lilian Manige, returned the victim to her family home in Buyanja with her belongings. The victim stated she is still suffering from abdominal complications, which doctors have yet to diagnose.
CUE IN…..HER ON PASTOR KAHIGYI//RR
According to the victim, Pastor Kahigyi advised her to use family planning methods, which she claims led to health complications, including fibroids that required surgery at Kabuga Hospital in Kanungu District. Despite this, she became pregnant, and the pastor allegedly forced her to undergo an abortion at a health facility.
CUE IN …..THE GIRL ON HER HEATH//RR
Her father, Enock Muronda, recounted how the pastor first contacted his daughter five years ago during a radio prayer session when she requested a Bible. After giving her the Bible, the pastor began involving her in church activities and later convinced her to move out of her home, promising to support her education.
CUE IN….MURONDA ON PASTOR//RR
Efforts to obtain comments from Pastor Kahigyi were unsuccessful, as he declined to speak while at the police station. Additionally, Boaz Kotunga, the LC1 Chairperson of Rweere Cell, was unavailable for comment due to being at a noisy event.
Police have launched investigations into the case, which has been reported at Rukungiri Central Police Station under file number CD 32/26/024. Pastor Kahigyi Bosco is facing charges of human trafficking as part of the ongoing probe.
The allegations have cast a shadow over Jerusalem Church, which operates branches in Rukungiri, Kanungu, and Ntungamo districts. Community members are now awaiting further updates from authorities as they call for justice in the matter.
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