Mbabazi, Lwanga enter deal to develop shrines

Aboda boda cyclist rides past Uganda Catholic Shrine Namugongo last month. The shrine has been sealed off for renovation ahead of the pope’s visit. PHOTO STEPHEN WANDERA.

Kampala- Former prime minister Amama Mbabazi and Kampala Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, have formed a private company to redevelop all Catholic shrines and faith-based tourist sites across the country, including Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo.

Two senior Catholic Church officials yesterday, however, said they knew nothing about the company, and ongoing renovations at the shrines are being executed by the Uganda Episcopal Conference through its finance and construction committee.

According to the records of the Registrar of Companies, Uganda Martyrs Shrines Redevelopment Limited (UMSRL), was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee on February 26, 2014, with Mr Mbabazi and Archbishop Lwanga as chairman and vice chairman, respectively.

A company limited by guarantee has no shareholders, but its members – either guarantors or subscribers – may pay minimal contributions in the event of the company winding up.
Mr Severino Twinobusingye, one of Mbabazi’s lead lawyers on his current presidential bid, is the company secretary.

Account opened
A February 4, 2014 ordinary meeting of the company resolved to open up a current account with the largely Catholic Church-owned Centenary Bank, and picked Mbabazi’s daughter Nina Rukikaire, as a signatory alongside Archbishop Lwanga and businessman and MTN chairman, Mr Charles Mbire.

The company, according to its memorandum of association, was formed to, among other objectives, “prepare for the celebration of the golden jubilee of the canonisation of the Uganda Martyrs; prepare for the visit of Pope Francis; and redevelop the Namugongo and Munyonyo martyrs’ shrines on behalf of the people of Uganda”.

Uganda Martyrs are a group of individuals executed on orders of Buganda king (Kabaka) Mwanga II between 1885-1887 for embracing Catholic and Anglican faiths in defiance of the king’s decree.
The UMSRL organisers expected the pontiff to visit in October 2014 and were working on that timeline, but the Vatican has since said the Pope plans to visit in November this year instead.

Subsequently, they undertook to redevelop the shrines to the “highest standard and rank” as other faith-based tourist sites in the world ahead of the papal visit.

According to documents Sunday Monitor has seen, the company’s seven objectives include raising funds using “all lawful means” for its work; executing anything incidental or conducive to achieve the objectives; and, redeveloping other unmentioned martyrs’ shrines with the “knowledge and consent” of respective dioceses, which own the land where the shrines are situated.

At the time the company was registered, Mr Mbabazi was still prime minister and leader of government business in Parliament – positions that placed him at the centre of coordinating preparations for a visiting foreign head of state such as the Pope.

Yesterday, lawyer Twinobusingye, however, said the Catholic Church handpicked Mr Mbabazi based on his personality rather than his status as prime minister, a position he lost on September 18, 2014 when he was sacked from Cabinet.

Twinobusingye said those challenging Mr Mbabazi’s chairmanship are “fighting the Catholic Church”.

“It was based on his personality; are you honest, are you dependable, are you a man they can rely on? His (Mr Mbabazi’s) appointment was a mark of confidence in him by the Catholic Church,” Mr Twinobusingye said.

However, Dr Joseph Ssebunya, the chancellor (administrator) of Kampala Archdiocese, differed from this position.

“The (facelift) works going on [at Namugongo and Munyonyo shrines] is not done by a private company but by the Uganda Episcopal Conference through its finance and construction committee,” he told Sunday Monitor.

The Pope’s planned visit, he said, is a national occasion about which they engage with the government and Mr Mbabazi’s involvement was in his official capacity as prime minister at that time, not an individual.

Mr Mbabazi told Sunday Monitor yesterday that he could not readily comment on the subject because he was in a meeting.

He promised to call back, but by press time he had not. Neither was his daughter Nina, a signatory to the company’s account, available on telephone.

The government has formed a new six-member committee, headed by Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, but its relations with the Mbabazi-led committee have not been smooth.

For instance, Mr Twinobusingye said the government tried but failed to replace Mr Mbabazi with Dr Rugunda as the new prime minister on the papal visit committee. His claims could not be independently verified.

In an earlier interview, Dr Rugunda said there were “many efforts made by private and public institutions” to ensure the Pope’s visit succeeds.

“The government recognises that different individuals and groups have taken different initiatives; so talk to the company and church who signed for the formation of the company for any specific questions,” Dr Rugunda said.

Another senior religious official, Msgr John Baptist Kauta, the secretary general of the Catholic secretariat in Uganda, expressed ignorance about the Uganda Martyrs Shrines Redevelopment Ltd company.

“That should be under Kampala Archdiocese, but I don’t know anything about it. I am not answering any [more] questions and it is my right. I need to be left alone on Saturday; it is my day of rest,” he said and muted.

Dr Kauta signed on the attendance list of a meeting of the national steering committee for the Pope’s visit.

The same names were filed with the Registrar of Companies as promoters of the Uganda Martyrs Shrines Redevelopment Ltd Company witnessed by lawyer Chris Bakiza.

Mbabazi and the Catholic church

Mr Mbabazi’s relationship with the Catholic Church leadership, including at the highest echelons, is not new. In December 2012, when still prime minister, he and his wife Jacqueline met Pope Benedict XVI during the Papal Audience at the Vatican in Rome, becoming the first Ugandan premier to do so in an official capacity.

“Mbabazi received a gift from the Pontiff, who also gave a Rosary to Mrs Mbabazi. Mr Mbabazi and his wife donated a gift to the Holy Father.

Later, the entourage was led out of the hall through a door only reserved for cardinals,” Mr Mbabazi’s media team at the time posted on his official facebook page.

During last year’s Martyrs’ Day on June 3, Kampala Archbishop Lwanga singled out and praised Mr Mbabazi, and a group of people he did not name, for contributing Shs500m towards the ongoing Shs52.5b reconstruction of Namugongo and Munyonyo Martyrs’ shrines. President Museveni, who officiated at the annual ceremony, pledged Shs400m.

On July 5, Mr Mbabazi visited the eastern district of Kaliro for mass. He posted on his facebook page: “I had the pleasure of celebrating Mass with the people of Kaliro as they honoured one of our martyrs.”

Gonzaga Gonza is the only martyr who came from eastern Uganda. He was working at the palace around 1886, and had dedicated his life to the living God.”

Mid this month, Mr Mbabazi joined pilgrims at Kiwamirembe Prayer Mountain for the celebration of the Feast of Assumption where he lashed out at police for blocking politicians, including himself and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, from speaking to Makerere University students.

The following appended their signatures as subscribers of the company on February 4, 2014 with lawyer Chris John Bakiza as witness.

1. Amama Mbabazi
2. Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga
3. Monsignor John Baptist Kauta
4. Rev Fr Eustachius Lwemalika,
5. Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile
6. Charles Mbire
7. Philip Odera (didn’t sign)
8. Fabian Kasi
9. Associate Prof Barnabas Nawangwe
10. Brig Timothy Sabiiti
11. Rev Fr Lawrence Mutiika
12. Rev Fr Athanasius Musajjakaawa
13. Rev Fr Joseph Mary Sebunnya
14. Rev Fr Emmanuel Kimbowa
15. Rev Fr Joseph Mukasa Muwonge
16. Rev Fr Marian Golab
17. Rev Fr Joseph Ssenkali
18. Mrs Winnie Rumanzi
19. Mrs Nina Rukikaire
20. Peter Rumanzi
21. John Mary Mugisha Esq
22. Joseph Kasozi
23. Severino Twinobusingye
24. Dr Sam Orachi Orach
25. Maria Mutagamba
26. Emmy Katabazi
27. Adolf Deffenhart
28. Rev Fr Mbareba Sserunkuma
29. Rev Fr Charles L Sewava (Didn’t sign)
30. Charles Mbaziira
31. Dr Martin Nsubuga (Didn’t sign)
32. Rev Fr Godfrey Kalule (Didn’t sign)
33. Florence Kiyingi (Didn’t sign)
34. Byarugaba Baterana (Didn’t sign)
35. Rev Fr Paul Masolo (Didn’t sign)
36. Kenneth Kiddu (Didn’t sign)
37. Dr Ben Mbonye
38. Rev Fr Joseph Sserunjogi (Didn’t sign)
39. James Vincent Kamwesiga
40. Rachel Ciconco
41. Christine Nagadya (Didn’t sign)
42. Dr Stephen Kiyimba (Didn’t sign)
43. Arinaitwe Rugyendo
44. Enid Kizza
45. Noel Muhumuza
46. Prof Andrew Otim (Didn’t sign)
47. Percy Lubega (Didn’t sign)
48. Robert Kabushenga
49. Ronald Kafumbe (Didn’t sign)
50. Dr Silver Mugisha
51. Emma Mutebi (Didn’t sign)
52. David Kigenyi Naluwayiro
53. Pamela Ankunda
54. Rev Fr Phillip Odi
55. Joseph Mary Ssali

Note: The page is headed “The National Steering Committee”, and the sub head is “Names of Subscribers”