Police in Ibanda have kicked off investigations into circumstances under which a church member committed suicide after her pastor denied shs16 million she had given him as her own savings.
The incident happened at Kafunjo cell, Bufanda ward, Bufanda division in Ibanda Municipality in Ibanda district when Scovia Ankunda, 35 who worked in Ibanda Central market took poison.
It's alleged that the deceased was a Christian worshiping from Depth Ministries Church under the leadership of Pastor Bukenya Daniel who the deceased met and agreed to save money with him and started giving him savings in installments.
“The savings accumulated to shs16 million but when the deceased requested to have her money from the pastor, he claimed that she had only saved shs800,000/," Rwizi region police spokesperson Samson Kasasira said in a statement.
The deceased then reported the matter to Police at Ibanda central police station on November, 6, to intervene but when the pastor was called he didn't respond to his calls and the deceased was advised to seek legal redress in civil courts of law since the matter was civil in nature.
"The next day she went back to the pastor where there seemed no progress and the deceased decided to take poison while inside the church in front of the pastor.”
Kasasira said the church member was rushed to the nearest clinic where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The body of the deceased was taken to Ruhoko health Center IV mortuary for postmortem.
The pastor is currently on the run after the market vendors attempted to lynch him and burn down his church but police quickly intervened to avoid any form of lawlessness.
