More than 60 pupils are allegedly out of school because a religious cult in Luweero outlaws formal education and adoption of anything that maybe modern. A local leader has said the leaders discourage believers from taking part in government programs like immunization.
The religious cult, which is locally known as Abajiiri, has spread in the villages of Makonkonyigo, Kakoola, Mpeeka, Nakasejere among others in Kamira sub county and have recruited more than 100 believers.
The chairman LC 3 of Kamira sub county, Livingstone Kategeya, says that the cult began in 2008 and its leader is identified as Sunday Mujiiri. He explains that all the believers have stopped their children from going to schools arguing that it will expose them to secular teachings. They believe secular education may lead them to adopt the satanic numbers of 666 which is quoted in the Book of Revelation in the Bible.
Kategeya says that Sub County, in conjunction with district administrators, arrested more than 30 believers, including the leaders, for denying their children the right to education in 2010. They were separated and held in Nakasongola and Masindi prisons for a year after sentencing. They have however emerged from prison unrepentant, regrouped, and are now recruiting more people.
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The chairman LC 1 of Makokonyigo village Abdullatif Sserugo says the believers have allegedly opened their own school which only quotes from the Bible. Sserugo says that apart from formal education, the believers are not allowed to own phone sets and participate in government programmes that include immunization, NAADS and other modern practices claiming that are sources of evil in the world and God will punish those engaging in them.
Juliet Namusisi a resident of Nakasejere village says that the strict religious beliefs have put the future of their children at risk of poor health and welfare because they are ageing but with no knowledge apart from ancient forms of farming.
The sub county officials and residents have petitioned the State minister for higher Education who is also the area Member of Parliament John Chrysostom Muyingo to investigate the cult and ban it to liberate the children from the bondage of its teachings.
Minister Muyingo has ordered the Police to investigate the matter and Luweero District Police commander Samuel Bamuzibire says that they took up the matter.
When URN Reporter attempted to interview some of alleged believers, they refused claiming that they are under threat and their leader Sunday Mujiiri was not available.
