The Catholic Diocese of Tombura Yambio is reeling from a daring robbery and theft that occurred at the Curia, Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio (CDTY), resulting in a substantial amount of cash being stolen.
A sum of USD 36,000 and SSP 17 million was stolen. The stolen funds belonged to individuals and schools who had opened bank accounts with the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio.
A press statement signed by Fr. Dominic Sasa, the Diocesan Chancellor noted that “The incident took place during the early hours of Tuesday, July 25th, 2023. The thieves gained access to the Finance office by breaking through the roof and made off with USD 36,742 and SSP 17,319,545.”
The Curia is the official residence of the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio. Catholic priests also reside at the Curia. It is also where CODEP, the social wing of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, is based.
Fr. Dominic Sasa said in a press statement that “The robbery was discovered the next morning when the cleaners noticed the broken door of the Finance office. Despite having watchmen on duty that night, they failed to detect the break-in.”
The statement has revealed that the two guards on duty at the time, identified as Mr. Suruba and Mr. Kero Two, were subsequently arrested by the police and Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) officers for further investigation.
Madam Joicy, the accountant in the Finance department, was also requested to remain in custody for questioning by the CID office. However, concerns about her health, particularly her high blood pressure condition, have posed challenges during her detention.
In response to the incident, the Diocesan Internal Audit team was immediately tasked with taking over the Finance department to verify the remaining cash in the Diocesan Financial Inter-service and to provide a detailed report on the stolen funds and the remaining balance.
Furthermore, a six-member committee comprising four reverend fathers, a deputy human resource manager and a deputy director for the Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CODEP) was constituted.
The committee is headed by Rev. Fr. Dominic Sasa the diocesan chancellor. Other members include Fr. Andrew Mbuniwia, Fr. Charles Mbikoyo who is the director of CODEP, Fr. Wasi Benjamin who serves as the Episcopal vicar for clergy, Ngbanisa David who is the deputy director For CODEP and Hosanna Valente who is the deputy human resource manager.
A board meeting, chaired by Fr. Andrew Mbuniwia, was held on Friday, July 28th, 2023, to discuss the incident and devise recommendations to prevent such incidents in the future. The board made several key recommendations, including coordination with government officials, continued intervention by the authorities, heightened alertness among security guards, implementation of a concrete fence, safekeeping of money in a secure location, re-organization of the financial system, and reallocation of the safe to a more secure room within the central administration block.
In the same way, Jesus Christ used the analogy of a homeowner and a thief to emphasize the need for vigilance and readiness for His second coming, the six-member committee summed up the incident with biblical scripture, stating, “You realize that if a homeowner had known at what time of the night a thief was coming, he would have stayed awake. He would not have let the thief break into his home –Mt. 24:43,” and “He would surely watch and would not suffer his house to be broken open –Lk 12:39.”