Haruna Onai Aron, the LC III chairperson of Labor sub-county in Serere district, has been sued for allegedly failing to honour a pledge he made during a fundraising drive for the construction of St. Michael Catholic Church.
The dispute stems from an October 4, 2025, fundraising event organised by the church to revive a long-stalled construction project. The event attracted Christians, local leaders, and well-wishers, with several livestock, including a cow, a bull, two turkeys and several chickens, put up for auction.
According to John Engau, chairperson of the church’s construction committee, Onai successfully bid for one cow, one bull, two chickens and one turkey, promising to pay immediately after the auction. The items were collectively valued at Shs 2.9 million – Shs 1.7 million for the bull, Shs 1 million for the cow, and Shs 200,000 for the turkey and chickens.
However, Engau said that two months later, Onai had not paid a single shilling despite multiple reminders. He added that church members made several trips to the sub-county leader’s home, only to be met with avoidance.
“Sometimes he would hide upon seeing me approach with other church members to demand the funds,” Engau said.
With pressure mounting from the congregation over the unpaid pledge, Engau filed a complaint at Arapo Police Station under CRB 05/20/11/2025. Gedeone Egili, another parishioner, confirmed that Onai collected the livestock in plain sight of the congregation without making any payment.
“There was increasing pressure from other church members questioning why Onai had not fulfilled his promise,” he said.
Police arrested Onai on Wednesday after he allegedly continued to evade both church leaders and investigators. He was detained at Serere central police station as inquiries into the suspected theft of church property continued.
It has also emerged that Onai is being investigated in a separate case involving the alleged theft of a generator belonging to Labor sub-county, registered under CRB 03/31/01/2024 at Arapo police station.
South Kyoga regional police spokesperson, Stephen Mukombe, confirmed that Onai, now out on police bond, faces charges related to the alleged theft of the church items, in addition to other pending investigations.
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