The Child and Family Protection Unit-CFPU at Arua Regional
Headquarters are hunting for Rev. Fr. Edward Eguma, the Nyadri Catholic Parish
in Maracha district to answer charges of child neglect and desertion. It follows
the priest’s failure to show at Arua Police Station where he is needed for
child neglect and desertion.
Trouble for Fr. Eguma started last week when his former
helper, Florence Edede filed a case of child neglect and desertion against him
at Arua Police Station. Edede, who is looking after a one and five months old boy,
claimed that the priest abandoned her in rented premises in Onduparaka trading
Center after impregnating her.
It is alleged that Edede’s decision to file a case against
him didn’t go down well with the priest. He reportedly became violent and attempted
to confiscate the property in the house at Onduparaka but the neighbours intervened
and impounded his Yamaha motorcycle Reg. No. UEU 501G and two plastic chairs,
which are in safe custody at Arua CPS.
Jimmy Anguyo, the head of the CFPU Arua Regional Police Headquarters, says that
after receiving Edede’s complaint on February 25th, 2021 he called Fr.
Eguma to record a statement in vain. He says that the priest has instead
resorted to intimidating Ededa forcing her to relocate elsewhere for safety.
Anguyo
says that they have now tasked the leadership of Arua diocese to locate Fr.
Eguma and present him at Arua CPS.
//Cue in: “Edede
Florence came.…
Cue out:…
came and made a statement,”//
Reports from Monsignor Kasto Adeti, the Vicar General of Arua Diocese show that
Fr. Eguma
has abandoned Nyadri Parish and is at large. However, Anguyo says the
administrator of the diocese has pledged to cooperate with the police to resolve
the matter after completing their own investigations.
Anguyo told URN that police have also received information that Fr. Eguma also
impregnated
another girl identified only as Gloria who is now 2 months pregnant. The girl
was staying with Edede at the Parish and has since returned to her parent’s
home in Odramacaku.
Preliminary police findings indicate that four girls were staying
at Nyadri Catholic Parish under the care of Fr. Eguma.
Candia Stephen
Freelancer