Pastor, convert drown in baptism gone-wrong
Publish Date: Jan 30, 2014
The incident occurred in Nakalama village, Nakalama subcounty in Iganga.
A Born-again pastor in Iganga district drowned along with a convert he was trying to baptize in an incident that left many shocked and engrossed in fear.
About 200 Christians had gathered at the dam to witness the baptism ceremony, but were left horror-struck when the proceedings took a fatal twist.
It is understood the dam, belonging to Mugoya Construction Company Ltd, is a popular site for baptism ceremonies.
But the latest initiation ceremony went awfully wrong when Pastor Wilber Mukisa of Redeemed Gospel Church in Bukooma village and Farida Mugolofa, a convert, drowned after they were allegedly hit by a “huge mass of water”, witnesses said.
The two tried to scramble out of the water but failed, as scores of followers watched in dismay.
Another pastor who was with the duo in the waters at the time of the deadly incident managed to swim to safety.
Pastor Joseph Akwasibwe from Kampala had joined in on the proceedings but was lucky to escape when the waters hit hard at them.
The incident occurred on Tuesday at around 6pm local time (EAT, 3pm GMT).
Seven other people have died in this dam during baptism ceremonies in the last two years, area residents said.
Sadat Bazibu, a witness of the latest fatality, said after the three – the two pastors and the convert – had entered the dam to carry out the ceremony, they were “covered by a strong mass of water”.
Iganga district police commander, Herbert Nuwagaba, said investigations into the matter had started and that the survivor pastor would help police.
