Buhweju RDC in spotlight for storming Church prayers, scuffle with priest

BUHWEJU –
Christians from St. Kizito, Bihanga catholic parish in Buhweju and Mbarara Archdiocese have petitioned Presidency Minister, Frank Tumwebaze to reprimand the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Mr. Moses Mwebesa accusing him of invading their church during night prayers and disorganizing the congregation.

In a February 2, letter to Mr Tumwebaze, Bihanga Parish Council Chairman Mr Ferdinand Tayebwa Kanyankore said that on Friday, January 29, Mr Mwebesa in company of the District Police Commander Mr Ben Niwagaba and other security personnel, stormed church while believers were holding their routine overnight charismatic renewal prayers and grabbed a microphone from preacher Mr Deusdedit Nabeeta , before ordering everybody to leave the place.

The letter also adds that Mr Mwebesa attempted to harm the parish priest Rev Fr. Keneth Beingana, who had been called in to sanitise the situation after the RDC sent the believers in dissary.

"....later on the RDC's orders, the DPC Buhweju Mr Ben Niwagaba ordered the closure of the prayer session and tried to confiscate the public address system, accusing the parish priest of holding a prayer session without informing the IGP," Mr Kanyankore wrote, accusing Mr Mwebesa of diverting the gathering from prayers and started campaigning for the candidates of his choice - Ms. Alison Byamukama and Mr Ephraim Biraaro – all standing on the NRM ticket for Buhweju woman MP and county MP respectively.

Mr Mwebesa, yesterday admitted breaking up the church prayer session, and accused the priest, Fr. Baingana of violating the law. He also defended his actions of trying to campaign for President Museveni, who is running for re-election, and other party candidates in the ensuing fracas.

“What I did was right because I only asked people to appreciate the NRM government for providing them with freedom of worship which was not the case in the past governments and I also asked them to vote for president Museveni. After that I consulted the LCs, NRM chairperson and other stakeholders who went with me to the Archbishop requesting for a disciplinary action against the priest. That’s what I did only,” Mr. Mwebesa told Daily Monitor in an interview on Tuesday.

In a statement issued yesterday the Archdiocese of Mbarara Development Association (AMDA), an umbrella association uniting all Catholics that hail from Mbarara Archdiocese, Chairperson Dr. Gaston Ampe condemned the actions of Mr Mwebesa and called for his reprimand.

"We stand with our brethren, parishioners of Bihanga Parish and their Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Baingana Kenneth in condemning, in the strongest terms the actions of the RDC and his team that were totally uncalled for,” he said.

“Their actions amounted to defiling of the Mother Church, something that we cannot just sit and ignore! We implore our parishioners in Bihanga Parish to keep calm, desist from engaging in any form of violence as they seek redress from the concerned authorities,” Dr. Ampe wrote in a press statement issued on Tuesday.

A parish council meeting that sat last Saturday resolved that Mr Mwebesa apologises to the parish priest and church leaders for disrespecting them in front of the congregation they lead.

The meeting of 44 parish council members also resolved that Mr Mwebesa apologises to the entire catholic community of Bihanga parish before the February 10, for not only causing mess at the church but also frightening them thus causing trauma.
However, Mr. Mwebesa is adamant he will not apologise and accuses Fr. Beingana of throwing away the money he (RDC) had taken to the offertory basket.
“How can the priest throw away the money I had offered to God? Mr. Mwebesa asked.

Presidency Minister was yesterday by press time busy campaigning in the constituency but told Daily Monitor by telephone that he would review the issue as soon as he got facts from the ground.