Luwero Magistrate Court has fined a self-proclaimed Jesus for refusing to be counted during the just concluded National Population and Housing Census 2024.
Jesus, whose real name is Navas Vella, appeared before a magistrate court in Wobulenzi town council in Luwero district on Wednesday, 29th, 2024, and was cautioned and fined Shs300,000 after pleading guilty.
Navas, the King of Star Glopper Eden Church, and his follower, El Shadai Gracy, were charged with obstructing the execution of lawful duty contrary to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) Act, Sec. 28(3), and subsequently remanded to Buntuntumula prison by the same court.
The duo refused to be counted by enumerators, claiming it was against their beliefs, prompting an intervention by the authorities.
In his defense, Navas claimed that, as the Son of God, he was already counted by his heavenly Father, who sent him on earth to save his people. He warned policemen against joking with “the Son of God” and wondered where they got the power to arrest him.
In 2016, Solomon Jonathan Semakula, a self-proclaimed ‘Jesus Christ’ from Nakaseke district, was also arrested and charged with belonging to an unlawful society, contrary to sections 56(1) and 2(a) of the Penal Code Act.
He was charged with managing an unlawful society, contrary to Section 57 of the Penal Code Act. He was arrested after discouraging his followers from seeking treatment from hospitals and participating in any government program.
