Pastor Geoffrey Ssemwogerere of New Jerusalem Church in Seguku, Wakiso district is behind bars at Kajjansi police station for allegedly chaining 12 people to purportedly heal them from mental illness and bad omen. According to locals, Ssemwogerere had chained his victims inside his church for at least six weeks.

The victims include men, women, and children.
It took the courage of two locals who peeped inside the church after hearing the voices of the victims to alert the police. Bosco Lukanda, one of the residents says that despite the fact that he is not one of those that alerted the police, he has been suspicious of the activities of the church, especially during night hours.

Hassan Mukasa, one of the victims who was rescued when eight police officers from Kajjansi police station raided the church, says that he neither has a mental problem nor did he complain of any bad omen.

Detectives at Kajjansi asked Ssemwogerere why he was chaining people but he remained mute. They also asked him to reveal where he kept Mukasa’s land title, phones, and cash but he remained adamant.

Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson said Ssemwogerere will be charged with unlawful confinement