Pastor arrested with 'miracle' machine

MARTIN SSEBUYIRA &
ZURAH NAKABUGO | Wednesday July 18, 2007 00:00

 

'Pastor' Obiri Konjo Yeboah on July 5 failed to convince Aviation Police officers why he needed this machine to do God's work. He is now facing serious charges including fraud and false pretence,' Police Spokesman Asan Kasingye told Sunday Monitor.

Police said the machine could be worn like a corset on the body. It also can generate up to 12 volts.

'When (he) touches his flock, they fall down (thinking) he is using super natural powers,' Asan Kasingye said. The machine is placed on any part of the body and gives a pleasant electric shock to whoever touches you.

The waterproof electric machine is activated within 10 seconds and can emit sparks of static electricity between the user's fingers while in darkness. The American company manufactures the machine known for freaking people's minds.

Kasingye said the machine using the body as a conductor of electricity, transfers the current to the person in contact but the one using the device remains unaffected. Other 'Born Again' pastors including the head of the National Council of Born Again Churches (NCBC), a body that regulate Pentecostal churches, are calling for prosecution of Yeboah.

'Police should interrogate him properly, know where he stays and the people he works with so that we get a clear picture of it all,' said Pastor Alex Mitala who heads NCBC. Yeboah is a pastor in We Are One Ministry Church on Sir Apollo Kaggwa Road, Makerere. His father, other pastors say, is Obiri Yeboah, the controversial pioneer of miracle healing in Uganda. His followers include several local pastors who include John Kakande.

Pastor Solomon Male said: 'It's a pity they have arrested Yeboah but police should not allow him to use a machine to deceive he has supernatural powers,' Male said. 'Yeboah's father was a witch, magician and I am not surprised that he was caught with that machine,' Male added.

Yeboah has denied charges he tried to import an electric shock machine to make people believe he could pass on the Holy Spirit.

'This is a toy. It was sent for my daughters' birthday,' said Yeboah. The pastor told the BBC that during his prayers, members of the congregation 'act as the spirit comes in them'.

There has been a massive growth in churches set up by charismatic preachers in Africa in recent years, amid fears some could be fraudsters.

The website of the company which makes the 'Electric Touch' machine, among other magic tricks, says: 'Charge a spoon, keys or coins and watch as it shocks a volunteer!
'They will believe you have supernatural powers!'
(Uganda Monitor)