Kabarole pastor stoned to death in money deal gone wrong

The pastor, Julius Mugisa of the church of God's Power Revival Healing in Kikoyo, Kibasi Town Council, was attacked by a mob in Igogonya village on claims that he had participated in the shooting of their colleague 30-year-old Tobias Komunda.

Pastor Julius Mugisa of God’s Power Revival Healing Church Kikoyo was attacked by a mob at Igogonya village on Friday on allegations that he participated in the shooting of one Tobias Komunda, 30.

Rwenzori West Region Police Spokesperson Vincent Twesige confirmed the incident.

According to eyewitnesses, the pastor was in the company of four unknown people when they arrived at Komunda's home at 5pm.

"It's alleged that a group of five unknown people travelling in a white vehicle with unknown registration plate went to the home of the deceased (Komunda) at around 5pm.

They all went behind the house of Komunda where they spent about 30 minutes haggling.

They developed a misunderstanding before Komunda told them to leave his home.

He (Komunda) attempted to pelt them with a stone but he was shot in the head and died," Twesigye said quoting witness statements.

Residents responded to the gun shots at which point the four unidentified people, including a woman, jumped into the vehicle and sped off.

Mugisa was intercepted by the mob as he tried to flee from the murder scene.

"The pastor fled from the scene but he had already been identified by the residents who were responding to the gun shots.

He was attacked and beaten by a large number of angry residents who overpowered the area police officers who tried to rescue him," Twesige added.

Police preliminary findings indicate that the two dead persons were involved in an illegal transaction with the other four who are still at large, which they failed to agree on concerning sharing.

“The deceased (Tobias Komunda and Julius Mugisa) and other assailants knew each other before the incident. They had a disagreement over an unknown illegal transaction where they failed to share equally because one of the daughters of the deceased (Komunda) overheard them (assailants) demanding for their shares,” he said.

Two catridges were recovered from the scene, one belonging to an SMG rifle and another of a pistol. Live ammunition from an SMG was also recovered from the scene where Komunda was shot.

According to Kibasi Town Council Chairman, Posiano Ategeka, the pastor had invited him to a fundraising at his church a week ago but the former had failed to make it.

The pastor's death came as a shock to Ategeka when he learned that he had also been implicated in Komunda's death.