AGAGO – A choir member of St Joseph Catholic Church in Patongo Town Council in Agago District was on Wednesday killed by a mob for allegedly stealing a parish priest’s cell phone.
Christians accused the deceased only identified as Ochan of stealing the mobile phone belonging to Fr Lioncy Akena.
The priest reportedly advised the suspect to surrender the phone but when he denied being in possession of the handset, some “Christians” beat him to death.
It is not clear whether the mob killed Ochan in the presence of Fr Akena.
Patongo Parish Council chairperson Mr Alfonse Odongo confirmed the incident.
“Initially when he was arrested, he denied stealing the phone but later revealed that he had thrown the phone in the toilet,” Mr Odongo told Daily Monitor on phone. “So some Christians who were at the mission (parish headquarters) for morning prayers started beating him and killed him.”
Mr Odongo, however, denied reports that the parish priest also participated in thumping Ochan.
However, Mr Nelly Okot who lives near the mission alleges that Ocan was beaten by only three people who included Fr Akena two other prominent Church members.
Ocan was a member of Church choir mainly playing the lead local guitar (adungu).
The acting District Police Commander Mr Ben Kilama said one person has been arrested in connection with the incident.
He added that the parish priest has also been summoned by police to record a statement.
“We have summoned the Father to come and record a statement, but he has not yet done it but we are waiting for him because we want to know from him what happened,” Mr Kilama said.
Mr Kilama confirmed that the suspect was staying at the mission (parish headquarters).
Mr Kilama who is also in charge of crime investigations at Agago Central Police Station said the body has been taken for postmortem.
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