EASTERN PROVINCE

POLICE has summoned a senior pastor attached to Communauté Evangélique au Centre de. l’Afrique church in Nyagatare for questioning over the fate of money he collected from students in the area.

Police sources told Sunday Times that Pastor John Mutembeyi appeared before Nyagatare police mid this week to explain the alleged disappearance of the students’money.

"We want to know what happened to the money he collected from students,” a police source said on Wednesday.

Mutembeyi is said to have collected money from students in various schools from the area but on the clear understanding that the pastor would connect them to a foreign benefactors who would meet their education bills.

About 50 students from different schools in Nyagatare stormed the police station last week complaining bitterly against Mutembeyi.

According to angry students, Mutembeyi demanded Frw5000 per person. The money was meant to cater for their registration.

 "We have waited for over three years but the promise has not been fulfilled,” one affected student who declined to be named complained. Mutembeyi reportedly told police that some students had benefited and appealed to the others to stay calm.

Students claim that the pastor photographed them and they don’t know where exactly he was taking the photos.

When contacted on Wednesday, Mutembeyi admitted to have solicited money from the needy students. He said he collected the money after church committee members including the children’s parents approved the move.

The Frw5000 was meant for registration. "Together with a committee we agreed collectively on how to do this,” he said. "It was not an individual position.”
Mutembeyi claims his enemies were pushing students to throw mud at him in order to undermine his credibility among his worshippers.

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