A priest attached to the dioceses of Kigezi in the Church of Uganda has been defrocked over allegations that he raped and impregnated a 24 years old disabled parishioner.
Reverend Julius Kyarikunda the now former Ikamiro Church of Uganda Parish Priest in Muko Archdeaconry in the Diocese of Kigezi has been on suspension from service since 2014 when the accusations were leveled against him by 24 year old disabled parishioner Medias Akankwasa resident of Bijeje cell, Muko Sub County.
Akankwasa alleges that in July 2013, Kyarikunda visited her home at night to inform them about the death of their relative, but her mother told the priest that she didn’t have money for transport.
The priest, she says, volunteered to give them some money but said it was at his residence.
Her mother then sent her with him to collect the money at his home to enable them travel the next day for burial.
She says that on her way back from the priest’s house, he followed her up to Ikamiro playground while pestering her for sex.
Akankwasa claims that she was reluctant to give in for fear of conceiving, but the priest promised to exercise precaution since they didn’t have any protection.
A few months later she realized that she was pregnant, and when she informed him, he denied responsibility.
Akankwasa further claims that after delivering her baby, she started getting threats from the priest warning her against revealing their secret to anyone.
Despite her pleas to the police and Muko Sub County Community Development Officer to prevail on the priest to provide for their five month old baby, she has never been helped.
Due to public outcry and the need create sanity in church, the Bishop of Kigezi Diocese Rt.Rev. George Bagamuhunda instituted a probe committee to investigate the priest to discover the truth of the matter.
Bishop Bagamuhunda confirmed this week that Reverend Kyarikunda has been defrocked and that investigations into the case were concluded in which Kyarikunda was found guilty of the crime.
Bishop Bagamuhunda
He says it is now up to the priest to make his peace with God and live a normal Christian life. Earlier in the investigations, Kyarikunda was asked to take a DNA test to prove that he was the father of his alleged victim’s child, but he declined to do so.
Meanwhile, the Diocese of Kigezi is also investigating three other priests for alleged involvement in adultery. Their names have been withheld as inquiries are completed.
This is not the first case of the kind. In 2005 Reverend Kenneth Byaruhanga was also defrocked over allegations that he raped and impregnated an underage girl.