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Bugingo kicks up storm with residents over church noise
House of Prayer Ministries pastor Aloysius Bugingo preaching recently. COURTESY PHOTO
Kampala- A storm is brewing between residents of Makerere-Kikoni Zone in Kawempe Division and the House of Prayers International Ministries Church of Pastor Aloysious Bugingo over excessive noise emitted during prayer sessions.
The residents say the church, which operates in open space under tents, emits excessive noise that has deprived them of sleep, quietness and a clean and healthy environment as provided for under the Constitution.
The church is sandwiched by residential houses. Among the neighbours is Hajj Ali Sserunjogi, one of the residents who has filed a petition in court, seeking orders for relief of noise from Pastor Bugingo’s church. On one side, it borders Hotel Renata.
Hajj Sserunjogi also sued Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) for failing to prevail over the church to stop the alleged pollution.
About 134 residents of zones C and D in Makerere II Parish in Kawempe Division say they have complained to local councils, the division council and city authorities and Nema but that they have not received any relief.
Ms Faridah Khan, one of the complainants, says they endure sleepless nights every time the church holds night prayers.
“Before, night prayers were held every last Friday of the month and we were used to that but these days they conduct night prayers any day and every Friday,” says Ms Khan.
“We are not fighting religious activities but our complaint is lack of peace at night,” she added.
In a sworn statement in support of the court petition against the church, Ms Anne Josephine Akise Waako, the proprietor of Hotel Renata, states that since the church started operations, they have suffered untold inconveniences by the excessive noise because her business requires relaxing, peaceful and quiet residential environment during day and night.
Through his lawyers Nalukoola, Kakeeto Advocates, the petitioner, Hajj Sserunjogi is seeking court orders to permanently restrain Pastor Bugingo and his church from emitting excessive noise beyond the acceptable decibels (degree of loudness).
Pastor Bugingo’s church in tents in Makerere-Kikoni Zone, Kawempe Division in Kampala. PHOTO BY STEPHEN OTAGE
He also wants a court order compelling KCCA and Nema to enforce their statutory mandates to ensure a serene and quiet residential environment as they are mandated under the law and also pay punitive and compensatory damages for violation of his constitutional right to a quiet environment.
Pastor Bugingo, states that Hajj Sserunjogi does not prove the existence of the alleged diseases and that if they exist, the same were not caused by the existence and presence of his church.
High Court Judge Andrew Bashaija has given both parties 60 days to explore an out-of-court settlement as an alternative dispute resolution process.
His decision was prompted by a request by lawyers for both parties to be allowed to have the matter resolved amicably.
Bugingo apologises for mocking wife Teddy
Pastor Aloysius Bugingo of House of Prayer Ministries has apologised to his wife Teddy following comments that he tolerated her in their marriage even when she had fistula for 10 years.
“I have apologised to the women Members of Parliament, the civil society organisations dealing in human rights and to all women in the world, most especially Teddy,” Pastor Bugingo yesterday told his congregation at his church in Makerere-Kikoni Zone, Kawempe Division.
Pastor Bugingo last week told his congregation that he spent a lot of money on buying cotton wool for his wife, whom he is seeking to divorce.
However, moralists and women rights activists condemned the pastor, saying his remarks show lack of respect for women.
A photo montage of House of Prayer Ministries pastor, Aloysius Bugingo and his estranged wife Teddy. FILE/COURTESY PHOTO
Obstetric fistula is a hole between the vagina and rectum or bladder that is caused by prolonged obstructed labour, leaving a woman with uncontrolled flow of urine or faeces or both.
Activists had yesterday planned to buy cotton wool and sanitary pads and deliver them to his church as a pay back to those he used to buy for his wife. Police had to deploy at his church fearing that the two groups would end up in a fight but the activists did not turn up.
The activists are today expected to converge at Bat Valley Primary School in Kampala to mobilise funds to buy cotton wool and deliver it to him.
Pastor Bugingo said his statements were just to echo his wife’s earlier testimony she made in the church that she suffered from a disease similar to fistula that doctors failed to treat for 10 years until God healed her.
He is seeking to end his 29-year marriage with wife Teddy after she accused him of engaging in extramarital affairs.
