The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Some Catholic priests have come out to openly express support for National Unity Platform-NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.
On Friday, Kyagulanyi marked his 39th birthday and decided to celebrate it by holding prayers at his home in Magere, Wakiso district as a way to remember colleagues who were arrested and others killed as he campaigned for president in last month’s election.
Father Jude Makanga, the Parish priest for Gayaza who led a group of about 10 other priests to celebrate mass at Kyagualnyi’s home, said the only reason they support Kyagulanyi is that he stands on principles that the church stands for. Makanga said that it would be wrong for state officials to attack them for their coming out to speak about issues affecting the people because it’s their canonical duty to do so.
Makanga said even if they didn’t share the same aspirations as those that Kyagulanyi espouses, they would still speak out about the challenges that he’s going through because he’s part of the Catholic Church. He called upon the government to stop the abduction of people for expressing their support for Kyagulanyi and the opposition at large.
Another renowned priest, Father Anthony Musaala called upon Kyagulanyi supporters to stay focused because victory was in sight. Musaala who referred to President Museveni as a dictator said history has had very many examples of very powerful people but were brought down by people whom they had underestimated.
Father Martin Oyo, the Parish Priest of Kamwokya referred to Kyagulanyi as his president-elect of Uganda. Oyo gave presents to Kyagulanyi including money to help him coordinate his activities, since he is his president-elect.
For his part, Kyagulanyi thanked the Catholic Church for not shying away from openly supporting him. He said the biggest problem that Uganda has had is religious leaders who have platforms to speak out against the ills affecting the country but instead are cowed or given money to keep quiet.
Kyagulanyi also castigated religious leaders who are always calling for peace amidst injustices committed against what he called peaceful people. He said there can never be peace when there is no justice in the country.
In the aftermath of the January presidential election, President Museveni who was declared the winner attributed his major loss in Buganda, the first time in 25 years, to the negative campaign by the Catholic Church and the Buganda Kingdom. He said that priests openly de-campaigned him and his NRM party in the region.
Several videos made rounds on social media with priests especially in Buganda calling upon people to ditch the NRM and instead vote for Kyagulanyi. They said that everybody must be involved in bringing about positive change in Uganda.
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” Father Anthony Musaala called upon Kyagulanyi supporters to stay focused because victory was in sight.”
Musaala is not a priest but a politician. I doubt if he prays at all. And if he prays at all his prayers are only received in hell otherwise had they been true prayers received in heaven, they would have won. His words are there to comfort the losers of the presidential election.
God is not a respecter of persons.
“They said that everybody must be involved in bringing about positive change in Uganda.” They wanted a “Catholic change”. It’s a pipe dream. Who wants to go backward. There is freedom of worship and true worshippers worship God in Spirit and Truth. In the West, the Catholic church buildings have empty pews. In Europe, there is even a shortage of Catholic priests. I think Uganda should loan Europe some of these idle Catholic priests. They don’t pray for peace but only participate actively in politics. A lot of them are involved in immorality and have violated their own impossible vows of celibacy. If anyone disputes, check how many Catholic priests have children in Uganda. In the West, a lot of them have been investigated for child abuse. It is a worldwide phenomenon. The nuns and former nuns are suing them for rape or sexual assault. Many have made the nuns pregnant and forced them to commit abortions and yet they will say that they are “pro-life”. Wearing a cassock is not holiness. They are sinners like anybody else. They too have to confess their sins and repent, otherwise, judgment is coming for all hypocrites. These priests are dividing the country. Love everybody even if they are not from your religion. God is Sovereign and Jesus Christ died for all. Holier than though priests, God has a message for you. Repent. God is Love!
So you mean it’s sinful to speak out about the ills of the government i.e. rampant abductions, torture and abduction of NUP activists. What you have just said is diversionary from the issue they (Catholic priests) raised.