A group of coffin dealers at Kubiri round-about in Makerere Zone 1 in Kawempe division, today staged a protest against Pastor Samuel Kakande, the leader of Synagogue Church of All Nations.
The traders brought coffins to the Kakande Ministries head office in Kampala in protest of the church’s decision to divert a water channel when constructing a parking yard for its congregants.
Following last night’s rains, running water flooded in the area. Some businesses including coffin dealers lost properties. The traders said that when Pastor Kakande bought a piece of land adjacent their businesses to construct a parking yard, he blocked the water channel that was already in the area.
One of the coffin dealers who declined to reveal his name told said that they wanted to take the coffins to Kakande’s church in protest of his actions.
He noted that Kakande had previously wanted to buy the whole place but when one of them refused, he decided to create a scenario that would make it difficult for them to stay there.
“He has always wanted to buy this area to construct a parking yard for his followers so he can show he is a ‘powerful’ preacher. Because the landlord refused to sell to him, he decided to force us out by creating this situation [flooding]. He found that trench open, he should have left it as it were. Why did he block it? We are taking all the damaged coffins to his church. He will find what to do with them. He can ‘eat’ them if he wants to. He can give them away to his flock. Teachings of the bible tell us that a pastor should be wishing his people well. What kind of preacher is this who wishes badly for his flock? Why does he even call himself a prophet?”, he said.
Yiga Hamiddu, the Makerere Zone 1 councillor said that he had tried to engage Pastor Kakande but in vain.
“As the area councillor I wanted to calm the situation but I failed to get to Kakande to address the residents. Instead, I have witnessed about 12 people being arrested. Now, I have to run to police and try to rescue my people. This is the first time we have experienced flooding in this area. I have lived here since 1994 and I have never seen floods destroy people’s property. But as you all see, the drainage was blocked sadly by the man of God who should be on the people’s side”
The protesters engaged police in running battles paralysing traffic along Bombo and Gayaza roads.
Some employees at the church assisted police in arresting the demonstrators by identifying the ringleaders. Some of the church members who spoke said that Pastor Kakande wanted to construct a water way but they abused him and he has since not responded to them.
Pastor Kakande was not available for comment.
