By Our Reporter
Prophet Elvis Allan Mbonye is being persecuted by government because of his firm stand against the new religious policy, members of Prophet Zoe Fellowship Ministries have revealed. This revelation was presented by Mr. Collins Tugumisirize and Ms. Agnes Namaganda at Serena Kampala Hotel on Monday.
The two members, who represented a larger community of Christian business group, said that as business people they are being affected by the persecutions of Prophet Elvis Allan Mbonye and his Ministry of which they are a part of. They envisage that these persecutions will affect employment, businesses, economy and social patterns through bias infringed on Prophet Mbonye Ministries.
Speaking to the press, Mr. Tugumisirize said that “many businesses are service providers to thousands of people attending prophet Mbonye fellowship, supplying accommodation, food and transport. Unfairly tarnishing the prophet’s image subsequently hurts hundreds of small businesses in Uganda.”
Mr. Tugumisirize added that “the recently launched Uganda airline would not have to struggle getting full bookings for pilgrims travelling to Uganda for Tuesday services every week, just like 6 out of every 10 weekly visitors to Lagos Nigeria (Nigeria immigration statistics), are attending the weekly meeting of prophet TB Joshua.
Spiritual tourism is worth hundreds of billions globally, with India earning over $40billion annually, China earning over $20billion annually, Israel earning over $6.3 billion. The public may perceive that what is negatively portrayed about Prophet Mbonye is true and regard him as evil, yet it is untrue.”
Mr. Tugumisirize also revealed that, through C/O Walyemera & Co. Advocates, they have submitted an affidavit in support of a motion in the High Court of Uganda at Kampala, which affirms and states that he was an adult male Ugandan of sound mind, and a member of Zoe Fellowship Ministries, which is led by Prophet Elvis Allan Mbonye. That Mbonye is a law abiding citizen, who is being persecuted by the respondents AIGP Grace Akullo, Ag. Commissioner Henry Mugumya & Attorney General and consequently, the subject matter of this application, and he swore this affidavit in that capacity.
Tugumisirize, through the affidavit affirms that trouble begun when Zoe Fellowship Ministries and other Church Organisations associated with it, took a stand against the Religious and Faith organisation Policy that the government is touting as a solution to fake spiritual leaders in the country. That Zoe Fellowship Ministries, and other ministries associated with it, have insisted that there are enough laws in place to deal with the mischief, the Religious and Faith Organizations Policy intends to cure if it is passed into law.
The affidavit affirms again that if the policy is passed into law it will muzzle a section of the body of Christ in Uganda, and it will determine how they will conduct their operations; especially in regard to their faith and beliefs. Yet the Bill of Rights conversed under chapter 4 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995, does not permit the respondents to abuse the powers entrusted to the public offices that they hold, to violate the human rights of citizens with diverse views about government policies.
Surprisingly, police investigations into this otherwise straight forward matter, are unreasonably and deliberately being delayed further violating spiritual father’s fundamental and non-derogable right to fair hearing.
Members of Zoe Fellowship Ministries say that it is quite absurd that while Prophet Elvis Allan Mbonye’s Facebook communication channels are widely known; the investigating officers deliberately and strategically choose to be ‘mistaken’ concerning his identity. Therefore they demand that Prophet Elvis Allan Mbonye’s continued appearances on police bond be closed, and “Mugisha Elvis Allan” be brought to police.
Tugumisirize called upon all Christians to join hands in this struggle against a fake Religious Policy. He said the perpetrators targeted popular leaders of the religious communities and that is why Prophet Mbonye is facing these persecutions.