By Watera Atai,
BUSIA
A catholic priest in Busia district Eastern part of Uganda has been arrested for allegedly defiling a 17-year-old pupil in her primary seven vacation.
Rev. Fr. Peter Owora, a priest designated at Dabani Parish in Tororo Archdiocese was on Sunday 28 January 2024, picked by police from the parish headquarters and detained at Dabani Police Station, before transferring him to Busia Central Police Station.
It is alleged that the horny priest has been feasting on the pupil for four days when she went missing from her parents’ home. He was arrested after the victim returned home and was interrogated.
Detectives at Dabani Police Station say they have carried out tests on the girl and established she was defiled, while tests on the priest indicate that he had sexual intercourse.
“We are analysing the suspect’s HIV status, although a Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (pregnancy) test on the girl returned negative results,” police reported.
The priest was later released on police bond after he showed health illnesses over alleged alcoholism and shiver.
Tibbs Asiimwe, the Busia District Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) Officer confirmed the Priest’s arrest stating that he had been released on medical grounds after his health deteriorated while in police cells.
Asiimwe said they are investigating the matter.
Sex abuse by priests is gradually increasing in the catholic church in Uganda. Earlier this month, a group of Christians from Kyamuhunga catholic parish in Bushenyi district, under Mbarara Archdiocese accused their parish priest, Rev. Fr. Archangel Ayebare and his colleague, at St. Daniel Comboni hospital Rev. Fr. Suzario Mwesiime of preying on women in the parish and the surrounding communities.
The duo was also accused of turning the parish Guest House into a brothel on top of mismanagement of the hospital funds among other accusations. Christians threatened to get a female dolly, dress it in a wedding gown and take it to the pruest (Fr. Archangel Ayebare) at the altar as his wife if no action was taken by the diocese. The priests are however, reportedly still stationed at the parish and the hospital respectively.
