Pastor arrested with 12 children

Budaka

Police in Budaka District have arrested a pastor in connection with child trafficking.

Mr Martin Otim, the Budaka District police commander, said the suspect, a resident of Namakisyo village in Mugiti, Budaka District had collected 12 children. “The curious residents became suspicious,” Mr Otim said. He added: “They alerted the police, which intercepted 12 children on their way to an undisclosed location in Mpigi District.”

The suspect from Voice of God Church, was accused of registering children between the age of eight and 14 from the eastern region on promises of providing them with formal education.
Mr Otim said the children were intercepted at Bitu Trading Centre. He said the pastor was detained at Budaka Central Police Station on charges of human trafficking.

Matter under investigation
“We are still carrying out more investigations to establish the motive of this (pastor) for registering and taking these children outside the district,” Otim said. “These days, churches have turned into businesses. We suspect an ulterior motive,” he added.

Early last year, security agencies intercepted about 25 children on Buvuma Island on suspicion that they were being taken into rebel recruitment.