Court summons new Orthodox bishop Kibuuka

Accused. Bishop Jacinto Kibuuka

What you need to know:

  • Complaint. The cleric is accused of uttering demeaning words against Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga and Gulu Diocese Bishop John Baptist Odama.

Kampala.

Court has issued criminal summons to the newly installed Evangelical Orthodox Bishop Jacinto Kibuuka for alleged acts intended to injure the Catholic Church.
Bishop Kibuuka was summoned to appear in court on November 29 following a complaint by Kalungu East MP Joseph Ssewungu and the Uganda Catholic Lawyers Society.
Buganda Road Chief Magistrate James Ereemye issued the summons on Tuesday.
Bishop Kibuuka is accused of uttering demeaning words against Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga and Gulu Diocese Bishop John Baptist Odama whom he referred to as crooks.
The charge sheet asserts that Bishop Kibuuka uttered the words on a radio talk show on a local FM station.
The petitioners say the words were intended to injure the feelings of several Catholics who consider Bishop Lwanga and Bishop Odama as their sacred leaders.
It is further stated that Mr Kibuuka is continuing to annoy Catholics by donning vestments (cassocks) and celebrating Mass at his Mamre International Prayer Centre in Namugongo in a similar way as the Roman Catholic Church does, yet he ex-communicated self from the said church in October, 2016.
The petitioners have filed a similar complaint against Mr Kibuuka in Kira Magistrate’s Court.

FILED SUIT

This is not the first time Bishop Kibuuka is involved in controversy. In 2016, he filed a defamation suit against the main priest of Bukalango Mount Sion Prayer Centre, Msgr Expedito Magembe. In the suit, he alleged that Msgr Magembe and five others had sexually assaulted and threatened a worshipper, one Nantongo.