The pastor of Ntungamo, two more arrested for murder

Ntungamo Magistrate’s Court on Thursday remanded three suspects, including a pastor, for their alleged involvement in the abduction and gruesome murder of Ariho Elijah, one year and ten months, and Ainembabazi Mellon, of 19 years

The victims were residents of Nyakyeera Town Council and Nyakishenyi Sub-County respectively in Rukungiri District.

The three suspects have been identified as Innocent Namanya, 33, a businessman and a resident of Kirera cell, Rwoho Town Council, Ntungamo District, who is also the biological father of the dead boy, Janepher Nuwahereza, 33, an apostle of the Church of Healers Ministry in Karama Kafunjo, Mirama Hills Town Council, and Namanya’s second wife, and Alex Mutesigensi, 34, a boda boda rider hired to transport the kidnapper.

The trio faces three counts of kidnapping and murder. The prosecution claims that Namanya planned the kidnapping and subsequent killing of his biological son with his second wife, Apostle Nuwahereza.

The prosecution further claims that Namanya on October 6, 2024 hired Ainembabazi Mellon to abduct his mother’s son, Create Natukunda, during a service at Kahinja Church of Nazareth in Nyakyeera Town Hall.

However, Ainembabazi resisted handing over the victim to the boda boda rider after realizing that the plan was to kill the boy and instead took the boy to his home in Nyakishenyi, Rukungiri District.

However, the suspects tracked her down and killed her. They then packed his body in a sack full of stones and threw both bodies into the waters of Kanyehunde-Nyarwanya-Rubaare.

The bodies were later recovered by the police and taken to Itojo Hospital for autopsy.

Investigations revealed that Namanya and Natukunda had ongoing domestic violence issues and their matter was in court.

First Class Magistrate Edgar Kakuru noted: “I hope you have heard the charges but this court has no jurisdiction so you will be tried in the High Court.”

The trio were remanded at Kiburara-Nyarubaare Government Prison until November 28 for further mention of the case.

Some Christians of the Healers Church Ministry expressed their surprise, recalling the recent sermon of Apostle Nuwahereza: “She revealed that she had a divine dream that she would be arrested for nothing, but God would deliver her.”

Resident Denis Tumuhairwe slammed churches that grow mushrooms, saying: “How can an apostle steal someone’s husband and claim to follow Christ?”