![A Church on fire. [Photo courtesy]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_4025.jpeg?resize=933%2C489&quality=89&ssl=1)
MAGWI – Authorities in Magwi County are investigating the arson of two churches in Owiny Ki Bul.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church and the African Inland Church, located about half a kilometer apart, were set ablaze by unknown individuals.
Authorities are currently holding a suspect believed to be experiencing mental health issues while further investigations continue.
According to Mabutu Isaac, an elder at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Owiny Ki Bul, the church was set on fire in the early hours of Sunday, January 20th.
“It happened at around 3 a.m. when people woke up realizing the church was burning,” he told Sudans Post on Tuesday.
Pastor Alana Paul Francis, the Magwi SDA district leader, condemned the act and called upon the perpetrator to repent.
“We will sit down with the church members across the District to see ways possible to erect another worship place in the area,” Pastor Francis said.
Owot Jackson, pastor of the Owiny Ki Bul AIC, urged authorities to release the suspect, stating that the church leaders would leave the matter in God’s hands.
“All church properties were not rescued, where they were burned completely,” Pastor Jackson disclosed.
Mr. Otto Nelson Lony, Chairperson of the Interchurch in the Acholi Corridor, strongly condemned the burning of the two churches.
Mr. Lony noted that this was not an isolated incident, citing the recent theft of church belongings from an Apostolic church in Magwi and the burning of a church in Omeo.
“Last week unknown person entered in the House of worship that belong to the Evangelical Free Church of south Sudan in Owiny Ki bul and burned everything inside,” Mr. Lony said.
