Religion divides politicians in Kigezi and Ankole regions

South Western region

Divisive politics based on religion among NRM party supporters in Kigezi and Ankole regions has attracted the attention of President Museveni, ahead of the August 30 party primary elections. The fights are between the mainstream Catholic and Anglican Churches. Last week, Mr Museveni rushed to Kanungu to defuse tensions that was mounting and threatening security in the area as the Christians took on one another.

President intervenes
The President said the church should play its role of preaching the gospel and political leaders direct their constituents on development. Daily Monitor has learnt that after addressing a rally at Kambuga Sub-county, the epicentre of the fights, the President met the Kanungu political and religious leadership at State House in Entebbe.

At the rally, Mr Museveni was dismayed by the civil servants census carried out recently basing on religion. “If this is not stopped, I will remove my suits and fight the people promoting sectarianism based on religion. The war is not over,” he said.

The Kinkizi East MP, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, contested the NRM polls for Kambuga and Rugyeyo sub-counties. In Kambuga, the polling station had been put at Church of Uganda and the Catholics reportedly refused to vote until the venue was relocated to a private farm.

Dr Baryomunsi, a Catholic, is battling for his political life against Rev. Canon Kenneth Kanyankore, the coordinator of Kinkizi Integrated Rural Development Programme in the Church of Uganda. There has been a political conflict between Kinkizi diocese and the Catholic parishes of Makiro, Kambuga, Butogota and Byamwegabira. The two factions have been fronting political candidates at all levels. Recently the Church of Uganda rejected Dr Baryomunsi’s offertory.

Other districts
In Kabale, a group opposed to the district party chairperson Ms Hope Mwesigye, boycotted the primary elections, saying she had manipulated the poll process. “I can’t participate in such an election where the register was messed up at grassroots level,” Fr. Gaetano Batanyenda. Ms Mwesigye is still battling for her royalty with the Catholic community after she allegedly ridiculed the celibacy of Catholic priests by telling Fr. Batanyenda to find a wife.

Fr. Batanyenda, recently hosted FDC president Kizza Besigye to preside over a Church fundraising function. “I have no regrets,” he said. The Catholics and Protestants in Kabale have also identified people to contest in the NRM primaries at different levels. In Rukungiri, a similar war between party supporters of Jim Muhwezi and Alex Kamugisha is escalating with religion taking centre stage. Mr Muhwezi defeated Mr Kamugisha, his former junior health minister, to take the NRM district seat.

In Sheema District, two Catholic contenders in the NRM primaries including Ms Rosemary Nyakikongoro are contesting against former Bushenyi District chairman Yowasi Makaaru, who is rooting for protestant counterparts.

Mr Makaaru, a presidential adviser, however, dismissed the claims as untrue. “We are united, moving as one people and no cause to worry. If there is one or two people not satisfied then they raise their voice. I am not in position to say such a thing is happening here,” he said.