A pastor in Rukungiri District, Pastor Bosco Mubangyizi Kahigyi of Jerusalem Church, is facing serious allegations of impregnating a worshipper and forcing her to undergo an abortion.
The victim, a resident of Nyakabungo in Buyanja Sub-county, and her father, Enock Murunda, have accused the pastor of exploiting her after promising to provide her with an education.
In an interview at Rukungiri Police Station, where they recorded statements, the victim revealed that Pastor Kahigyi coerced her into a sexual relationship after initially promising to help her further her education. The girl claimed the pastor took her to various church conferences and rented accommodations 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 earlier today with her belongings. The victim stated she continues to suffer from abdominal complications that doctors have yet to diagnose.
The victim disclosed that Pastor Kahigyi later encouraged her to use family planning methods, which led to 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 terminate the pregnancy at a health facility.
According to Murunda, the pastor first contacted his daughter five years ago during a radio prayer session when she requested a Bible. Following this, Pastor Kahigyi provided her with a Bible and began involving her in church activities and conferences in Kisoro, Ntungamo, Kampala, and other districts. Eventually, the pastor convinced her to leave her home, promising to sponsor her education.
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 was unavailable for 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 Bosco Kahigyi accused of human trafficking.
