Christians petition church over bishop
Kampala- Christians of West Ankole Diocese have petitioned the House of Bishops demanding for a new bishop to be elected from the two persons nominated by the synod.
“…If there is any reason that does not allow you to do so, communicate it to the Christians and proceed to conduct fresh nominations and come up with the right candidate that will be elected Bishop of West Ankole Diocese,” reads the petition.
On June 1, the House of Bishops elected the Rev Can Henry Katumba-Tamale as the bishop of West Buganda Diocese and the Rev Canon Samuel Kahuma for Bunyoro-Kitara Diocese.
However, the house deferred the election of the new West Ankole Diocese bishop despite the nomination of two candidates.
The new bishop is slated to replace Bishop Yona Katoneene. In a June 6 petition copied to Archbishop Stanley Ntagali, the believers said they are discontented with the continued suppression of their will.
“If the above process is not carried out within the next 14 days, we the under listed Christians of West Ankole Diocese will take the matter to court for remedy,” reads the petition.
The Christians led by Mr Zeddy Byakyaro, Mr Andrew Atwinamatsiko and Mr Philip Murwani Mugume said they would not accept a caretaker bishop.
When contacted about the matter yesterday, the communications officer of the Church of Uganda, the Rev Can Alison L. Barfoot, said: “Unfortunately, the archbishop is in South Ankole Diocese since Sunday. So I don’t have anything.”
Efforts to contact the church’s provincial secretary, the Rev Can Amos Magezi, were futile as his known mobile telephone number went unanswered.
