Concern has gripped the congregants of ACK St. Philips Korisai parish in the Malaba area of Teso-North Sub County following a burglary that saw thieves make off with property valued at Sh150,000.
Reverend Gabriel Muzungu, speaking on the incident, explained that the burglars gained access by breaking a window leading into the vicarage.
Once inside, they targeted electronics and food items, including contributions from the Sunday harvest offertory.
This incident marks the second occurrence of attempted theft at the church, with the culprits seemingly focused on musical instruments found in places of worship, as well as laptops designated for educational digital literacy programs in schools.
“I was notified early this morning about the breach in the vicarage by unidentified individuals, who managed to pilfer musical instruments and food supplies worth approximately Sh150,000,” Rev. Muzungu reported.
Rev. Videlis Ekaiti, the parish curate, expressed dismay at the trend of places of worship becoming primary targets for such criminal activities, emphasizing that the thieves seem to have lost their reverence for sacred spaces.
She appealed to traders dealing in second-hand electronics within the neighboring areas to collaborate with law enforcement by reporting any attempts to sell stolen items, such as speakers, microphones, pianos, or any of the items that the church has lost.
The parish’s chairperson also highlighted the escalating insecurity issues across the entire Teso North sub-county.
She noted that electronics, particularly school tablets, are the primary focus of these criminal acts.
“In the past month alone, four churches have experienced break-ins, and more than 10 schools have fallen victim to the theft of laptops and tablets under similar circumstances,” she asserted. She implored the police to enhance nighttime patrols in the region to address the rising security concerns.
