Diocese of Lango bank account frozen over 62 million shillings court cost
By Denish Ongora (denish.ongora@vol.co.ug)
Dokolo
Court has frozen the bank account of Diocese of Lango over shs62.9 million court cost after losing a land case against St. Barnabas church of Uganda, Agwata, Dokolo district.
The land wrangle emanated in 2009, and St. Barnabas Agwata leaders dragged locals to court in Lira in 2011 but lost the case in 2019 and were slapped with a court cost of shs38 million. However, locals were not paid this money since court found that St. Barnabas was not known by law and could neither drag anyone to court or be dragged to court.
The church leaders then opened another case against locals in Dokolo in 2019 and this time under diocese of Lango.
On 27th/11/2023 the grade one court ruled that the land belonged to locals and Lango diocese was again slapped with another court cost.
On 25th /11/2024, Dokolo grade one court ruled that diocese of Lango pays 31.7 million shillings court cost and another 31 million shillings in damages.
Court then ordered freezing of Dioece of Lango Investment account till when all the shs62.9 million has been paid.
Odyek Samuel a lawyer from Abwang Otim and Co. Advocates said they attached diocese of Lango bank accounts because they failed to appear in court to follow up on the case.
Odyek said they have summoned the manager of Equity Bank to appear in court on 18/08/24 to ascertain if there are funds on diocese of Lango accounts that can be used to pay for the court cost.
Okori John Alfred who led 19 locals in court against diocese of Lango welcomed the development, but said most of their members died while pursuing the case that lasted several years.
Diocese of Lango PRO, DL Okello said he has not got information on the matter.
The land in question measures 100 x 900 sq. meters and is found in the villages of Agwata Atidi, Amuka Ceke, Agebo A and Agebo B.
