A pastor in Rukungiri District, Pastor Bosco Mubangyizi Kahigyi of Jerusalem Church, is facing allegations of impregnating a worshipper and forcing her to undergo an abortion.
The victim, a resident of Nyakabungo in Buyanja Sub-county, along with her father, Enock Murunda, has accused the pastor of exploiting her after promising to educate her.
In an interview at Rukungiri Police Station, where she and her father recorded statements, the victim revealed that Pastor Kahigyi coerced her into sexual relations after initially promising to help her get an education. The girl claimed that the pastor took her to various church conferences and rented accommodation for her in different districts, including Rukungiri, Kihihi, and Ntungamo, to conceal his actions.
The incident came to light when the pastor, accompanied by his wife Elizabeth Kahigyi, a police officer, and another member identified as Lilian Manige, reportedly brought the girl back to her family home in Buyanja this morning with her household belongings. The victim stated that she continues to suffer from abdominal complications, which doctors have yet to diagnose.
The victim disclosed that Pastor Kahigyi later advised her to use family planning methods, which caused health complications, including fibroids that required surgery at Kabuga Hospital in Kanungu District. Despite this, she became pregnant, and the pastor allegedly forced her to undergo an abortion at a health facility.
According to Muronda, the pastor first contacted his daughter 5 years ago during a radio prayer session when she requested a Bible. Following this, Pastor Kahigyi gave her a Bible and began involving her in church activities and conferences in Kisoro, Ntungamo, Kampala, and other districts. Eventually, the pastor convinced her to move out of her home, promising to sponsor her.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Pastor Kahigyi were unsuccessful as he declined to speak while at the police station. Similarly, Rweere Cell LC1 Chairperson Boaz Kotunga could not provide a comment due to being at a noisy event.
Pastor Kahigyi is the founder of Jerusalem Church, which has branches in Rukungiri, Kanungu, and Ntungamo districts. Police investigations into the matter are ongoing.
The case was reported at Rukungiri Central Police Station under file number CD 32/26/024, with Pastor Kahigyi Bosco accused of human trafficking.
