Kanungu Catholic Priest Kidnapped With Bag Of Money, Tortured and Dumped at Police Station
The Parish Priest of Rutenga Catholic Parish in Kinkizi East in Kanungu District Rev Fr Andrew Tumukurate is nursing serious wounds after he was allegedly kidnapped by unknown people who tortured him and later dumped him at Kanungu Police Station.
Fr Tumukurate was reportedly kidnapped from Rutenga Catholic Church yesterday September 2nd 2020, by men traveling in vehicle registration number UBD 340R.
Kigezi Regional Police Spokesman Elly Maate said that Rev Fr Andrew Tumukurate was arrested by unknown group people who brought him to the Police Station with his laptop , bag of money containing Ugx 1,629,300 and NRM letters for agents of one Zepher Mugisha who is contesting for the LC V Chairman seat.
Fr Tumukurate said that he was attending to members of Rutenga Catholic Church Sacco before the kidnappers took him to Kanungu Resort Hotel which belongs to Minister of State for Housing Dr Chris Baryomunsi, where he was tortured as they asked him why he did not support the Minister vying for Kinkizi East Parliamentary Seat and why he was distributing money.
“He was arrested by a group of people yet to be identified by names, however reliable source we have established that they have come from Dr Hon Chris Baryomunsi camp,” Maate said in a statement last evening.
However, Dr Baryomunsi has issued a statement distancing himself from the kidnap and arrest of Rev Fr Andrew Tumukurate.
“I’m saddened by the news of the kidnap of Rev Fr Andrew Tumukurate of Rutenga Parish but also dismayed by the allegations of any of my involvement” Dr Baryomunsi posted this massage on social media distancing himself from the arrest of the Priest.
The arrest of Fr. Andrew Tumukurate comes just one day before the NRM primary elections where the incumbent Dr Chris Baryomunsi is facing stiff competition from Deus Nkwasibwe also known as Omusisa for Kinkizi East Parliamentary Seat.
