Yei County authorities are claiming land given to the Catholic diocese for Chris the King Cathedral and arrested the parish priest.
Fr. Poru said the land the county wants to occupy belongs to the church since 1997 when former Acting Executive Director Augustino Ali Liwaya presented it for the Cathedral.
Bishop Erkolano Lodu Tombe of Yei met with the commissioner David Lokonga Moses after Fr. Poru’s arrest.
Mr. Lokonga confirmed the arrest, saying the priest removed the blocks he had put to mark the land and he was opening a case against the cleric.
The commissioner claimed that the former Acting Executive director Liwaya did not use the right procedures to issue land to the diocese.
Bishop Lodu told the commissioner the land is known to be for the church since 1997.
He added the diocese has plans for the plot in dispute: to build a health centre extension with a maternity and a secondary school.
The bishop added he is ready to pay for the leasing.
Mr. Lokonga insisted that the papers the diocese possesses are not legal and his office does not reorganize them.
The commissioner added that the county wants to construct a Guest House in the place while other parts were demarcated for residences.