Police in Kajjansi has arrested a church pastor, Geoffrey Ssemwogerere of New Jerusalem Church in Seguku, for chaining his followers for over a month.
Hassan Mukasa, who is one of the victims, said that he was brought to Seguku from Bisangye, Masaka.
According to Mukasa, he was selling his land and one of the brokers connected him to the pastor as a potential buyer.
“When I reached his church, they tortured me before putting chains on my legs,” he said.
The other 11 victims include men, women, and children, who have been chained allegedly because of mental illness.
However, the noise from inside the church prompted the locals to peep inside. Locals claim that the victims have been chained for at least six weeks.
They reported the matter to the local authorities, who also alerted the police.
Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, confirmed the arrest of the pastor and said investigations are ongoing as different chains and padlocks have been recovered from the church.