On the afternoon of August 30, 2026, what should have been a mundane administrative task inside a small parish church in western Uganda turned into a scene of alleged violence. Ayebare Felix, a pastor at Kyarusongyera Anointed Church in Bwanga Parish, Nyarushanje Sub-county, Rukungiri District, now faces criminal charges after he allegedly attacked Joan Byomuhangi, the church’s secretary, during a post-service offertory counting session.
What Police Say Happened
According to investigators, the trouble began when Ayebare allegedly reached into the offertory basket and grabbed money before it had been properly counted. When Byomuhangi, 34, a local resident who volunteers as church secretary, reportedly tried to stop him, the situation escalated. Police allege that the pastor then physically hit and boxed her, accusing her of blocking him from accessing church funds he apparently considered his to take at will.
The alleged assault did not stop there. Authorities say Ayebare also snatched Byomuhangi’s personal mobile phone and hurled it to the ground with enough force to crack both the front and back panels. Investigators noted that he had previously threatened her, suggesting this incident was not an isolated flash of anger but possibly part of a pattern of intimidation.
The incident was reported to local police authorities in Rukungiri, who moved swiftly to arrest the suspect. By the time the story became public, Ayebare Felix was already in custody.
Police Issue a Blunt Warning to Religious Leaders
SP Nelson Tumushime, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Kigezi region, did not mince words when addressing the case. He stated plainly that freedom of worship does not extend to assault, fraud, or extortion. “Any pastor found engaging in criminal activities will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance to the laws of Uganda,” he said, a statement that reads less like a press release and more like a direct challenge to those who might believe a religious title offers legal immunity.
It is a pointed message at a time when faith-based institutions across East Africa have come under growing scrutiny for financial opacity and the unchecked authority some spiritual leaders exercise over their congregations. Uganda in particular has seen a sharp rise in the number of registered churches over the past two decades, and with that growth has come a corresponding concern about accountability within those institutions.
The Broader Problem: Money and Power in Uganda’s Churches
This case, while specific in its details, touches on a wider tension that many Ugandan churchgoers quietly acknowledge. The collection plate, or offertory basket in this instance, represents both spiritual generosity and real financial power. In many smaller congregations, there is little formal oversight of how donations are collected, recorded, or spent. The pastor often functions as the spiritual leader, the financial administrator, and the final word on church affairs, all at once.
That concentration of authority, without transparent governance structures, creates conditions where abuse can flourish. Byomuhangi’s role as church secretary suggests she was one of the few people in a position to observe the financial process up close, which may be precisely why she became a target when she reportedly pushed back.
When Congregants and Staff Bear the Risk
Church secretaries, treasurers, and lay administrators often occupy a uniquely vulnerable position. They are trusted enough to handle money but may lack the institutional power to challenge a pastor who decides the rules do not apply to him. In many cases, they are volunteers motivated by faith rather than a formal employment contract, which means they have fewer legal protections if things go wrong.
The alleged destruction of Byomuhangi’s phone adds another dimension to the case. It signals an attempt to intimidate, possibly to prevent her from documenting the encounter or contacting anyone. That detail, if proven in court, could carry significant weight in how the charges are framed.
What Comes Next
Ayebare Felix remains in police custody as authorities in Rukungiri process the case. Ugandan law covers assault causing bodily harm, malicious damage to property, and theft, all of which appear relevant based on the facts police have laid out. Whether prosecutors build a case that sticks will depend largely on Byomuhangi’s testimony, physical evidence, and whether any witnesses were present during the 2 p.m. incident.
For now, the Kyarusongyera Anointed Church finds itself at the center of a story that has clearly unsettled its community. A congregation that gathers in faith should not have to worry that the money they give in good will is being grabbed from the basket before it is even counted.
SP Tumushime’s warning to religious leaders across Kigezi is worth repeating, because it raises a question every congregation in Uganda, and frankly beyond it, should be asking: who is watching the person in charge of watching everything else?
