Uganda: Pastor Accused Of Raping Tourist Released On Bail

A Ugandan pastor who was remanded on allegations of raping a Latvian tourist has finally been granted bail.

By the High Court deputy registrar Festo Nsenga on Wednesday, Pastor Joseph Collins Twahirwa was given a cash bail of Shs1 million and instructed to leave his passport with the court.

Additionally, he was instructed to appear in court every three weeks until his sureties were cash-bailed out for Shs5 million.

Through his attorneys, Pastor Twahirwa informed the court that he has a fixed place of abode, has a heart condition that can not be managed while in custody, and that his sureties were substantial. 

These reasons were among the ones he listed in his application for bail pending the hearing of his case.

Twahirwa is charged with having illicit sexual relations with Saulite Anda on December 12, 2022, in Kampala's Munyonyo Zone without her permission.

The 36-year-old Latvian claimed Twahirwa raped her on the evening of December 11, 2022, after telling her he wanted to have a baby and pushing her onto the bed while forcing himself on the lady. 

Anda also described her frustration with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (CID) after initially trying to file a case at Jinja Road Police Station. 

Officers at the first location demanded that the Latvian "buy [fuel] to put in [their] car" or "to sleep with me."

Anda was informed by the CID officers that she was "playing with a man who has big people around."