President Yoweri Kaguta Museven during his first state of nation address on Covid-19 on 18th march 2020 suspended religious gatherings and schools as part of measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the country.

On this ground, police in Koboko lead by ASP Abwange Samuel the district police commander on Monday swag into action after getting tip off from concerned resident of tendele village about the crowd that had gathered at the church with hopes of seeing Virgin Mary and arrested two while others fled.

Catechist Bule Joseph of Tendele Church of Uganda in Tendele village, Busia parish Kuluba Sub County and his follower Inzama Bosco were arrested today following a tip off from concerned citizen who informed police at the sub county.

Detective ASP Aluma Charles the deputy crime intelligence officer Koboko who confirmed the arrest today says the two were arrested in the church while in praise and worship sessions where more than 500 people gathered at the church on allegations of seeing Virgin Mary.

“Yesterday(Monday) at around 7:30,some catechists went and opened their church inviting worshippers to gather in pretext that when you reach the church and enter, you will see virgin Mary, more than 500(five hundred people converged at the church) but however when we reached most of them fled off and we managed to arrest two.”

He however says the two have been arrested and charged for disobedience of presidential directives and lawful orders.

“That is one of the disobedience, failing to follow presidential directives, we went and collect the catechist and one of his follower who acted as mobiliser and we have charged them with disobedience of presidential directives “.

The detective however warned the public from opening such gathering places which is contrary to the presidential directives as the country fights Covid-19

Appearing on Monday evening before Koboko grade one magistrate courts, the two convicts pleaded guilty before court and his worship Guchina peter the Koboko grade one magistrate charged them with disobedience of lawful orders.

According to Chapter 303 of the Police Act, Section 35(2) of the Penal Code Act stipulates that any assembly of three or more people, the offenders may be arrested without warrant and is liable on conviction to affine or imprisonment.

The two arrested convicts have been convicted to serve community services at Busia police station for one month, failure accounts for six month imprisonment.