Archbishop asks for neutral Kasubi inquiry

The religious leader called for truthful answers to some of the “unanswered questions” in the country including the cause of the Kasubi fire and Buganda Kingdom’s quest for a federal system of government.

Kampala
The head of the Catholic Church in Uganda has called for an “objective and independent inquiry” into the fire that consumed Kasubi Tombs last month. Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga of Kampala Archdiocese also accused unnamed Central Government ministers of “spitting fire” and “sowing the seeds of hatred in the country against the Baganda”.

In an unusually strong Easter message, Archbishop Lwanga said many of the challenges facing the country today are not being addressed truthfully.

“Some politicians are telling lies, some religious leaders are telling lies, some traders are cheating customers, some medical personnel are giving their patients under-treatment and sometimes expired drugs, some teachers who are paid to educate properly their students don’t prepare well their lessons,witchdoctors are also telling lies to their clients,” Archbishop Lwanga said in a written statement.
The religious leader called for truthful answers to some of the “unanswered questions” in the country including the cause of the Kasubi fire and Buganda Kingdom’s quest for a federal system of government.

“If we are to solve some of the burning questions like the Federal Issue, the British Government should assist us in explaining to the people of Uganda what they meant by giving Independence to Buganda on 8 October 1962 and also giving Uganda independence but also including Buganda on 9 October 1962,” he said.

Archbishop Lwanga raised doubts about the veracity of claims by a one Joseph Musoke, who is in police custody after claiming to have started the fire. The archbishop said an independent inquiry should collect evidence from government officials, Buganda Kingdom officials and members of its royal family, political parties, security organs and “all those who are bitterly opposed to the Kabaka and the Baganda in general”.

In response, the NRM Government Chief Whip, Mr Daudi Migereko, said yesterday that the archbishop’s comments should be treated with care.

“As you people in the media you have the responsibility of judging whether something will cause excitement,” he said. “If something for example will incite the public, then you can say this has no good cause to the national fabric and you can decide not to give it credibility by publishing it.”

Mr Migereko added: “The President has ordered the police to thoroughly investigate this matter. What the bishop is saying is something that the government is already doing. A committee has been set up to follow up this matter.”