Election of new West Buganda Diocese kicks off

Masaka- The Anglican Church has officially kicked off the process of identifying a new bishop for West Buganda Diocese amid questions over its transparency.

The new bishop will replace Bishop Godfrey Makumbi who succumbed to cancer in June after serving for four years.

Mr Charles Kahigiriza, the diocesan head of laity, told Daily Monitor on Tuesday that the process, which started a week ago, began with the election of a new diocesan synod, with representatives from all the 127 parishes.

The representatives will select an electoral college among themselves to begin the nomination exercise.

“Many parishes have already submitted lists of their preferred members to the diocesan secretary to constitute the assembly,” he said.

Archbishop Stanley Ntagali appointed Bishop Jackson Matovu of Central Buganda Diocese as caretaker after Bishop Makumbi’s demise.

Although Mr Kahigiriza said the process is supposed to be fair and transparent, there are protests in some parishes where the congregants are questioning the choice of their representatives to the synod, citing election irregularities.

A representative from All Saints Church in Nyendo, Masaka District, who preferred anonymity to speak freely about the matter, alleged that some of the representatives elected are not members of their church.

“Some selfish individuals with vested interests handpicked people of their choice who they sent as elected representatives,” he said, adding that they had already notified the diocesan authorities over the same.

When contacted, Bishop Jackson Matovu accepted receiving such complaints from the laity, but said this would not botch the exercise.

Bishop Matovu said although he is not directly involved in the process of choosing a new bishop, he is required to offer guidance to ensure a transparent process.

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