A surreal spectacle unfolded in Bugembe, Jinja Northern Division, on Wednesday evening after a man believed to be battling mental illness climbed to the top of Christ Cathedral in what appeared to be a dramatic attempt to fast-track his way to heaven.
The man, identified only as Stewart, a resident in his mid-20s, reportedly made several unsuccessful attempts before finally scaling the iconic church structure just after 5pm.
Onlookers say he seemed determined to reach higher ground—spiritually or otherwise.
Crowds quickly gathered, with residents looking up in a mix of alarm, disbelief, and whispered prayers.
“At first I thought it was a film scene,” said one boda boda rider, “but then I realised the man was serious.”
Police and fire brigade officers rushed to the scene, roping off the area and launching a delicate rescue operation.
Clergy from the Cathedral joined the effort, urging Stewart to come down, while others resorted to hymns and prayer, hoping divine intervention might work better than negotiation.
“We are doing everything we can to bring him down safely—without divine levitation,” said a police officer at the scene, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Stewart, however, remained unmoved—literally—perched quietly at the top, unbothered by the chaos below.
By sunset, he was still up there, occasionally waving and muttering unintelligibly, as rescuers continued to plead with him to descend.
Mental health advocates have urged the public not to laugh off the incident.
“Yes, it’s unusual. But it reflects deeper issues in our society. Let’s show compassion and push for better mental health support,” said a Jinja-based psychologist.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and have advised the public to avoid crowding the area or taking videos, urging empathy over amusement.
As of publication time, Stewart remained on the Cathedral rooftop—still closer to the heavens than the rescue team would like.