By Western Focus Team
Former Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye has condemned the acts of violence that some Christians in Sheema district extended to church, religious leaders/the clergy in West Ankole Diocese.
Tumwesigye described the ‘ugly incidents’ attacks on churches as very unfortunate. In 2014, misunderstandings broke out between a cross section of Christians in Sheema and the then leadership of West Ankole Diocese over the Diocese’s attempt to create a branch of Ankole Western University (AWU) at Katungu Mothers union centre in Bushenyi Town.
While the Diocese’s decision was meant to utilize the buildings at Katungu to provide space for the university’s expansion and also bring education services nearer to people/Christians, a cross section of Christians in Sheema ganged up and fought on while accusing the Diocese for trying to shift the University. It became a ‘thorny’ issue in the Diocese to the extent that some churches were closed, some clergy men were attacked and harassed while the then Bishop Emeritus Yona Katoneene was blocked from accessing some churches.
Caption: Rev.Canon Bethel Namara (centre) the Kyanyakatura Archdeacon accompanied by other Priests and his friends after the service on sunday.
Tumwesigye who was at that time the Sheema North area Member of Parliament wondered on whether it was “external evil” that was influencing the aggrieved Christians to wage such a conflict against church/clergy.
This is the first time for Tumwesigye to openly condemn publically the violence that spread against the clergy and the church. “Never fight church and never fight a religious leader/clergy,” Tumwesigye said.
Tumwesigye was on Sunday addressing Christians of Kyanyakatura Archdeaconry in Nyabubare Sub County in Bushenyi district. Tumwesigye together with other friends of the area Archdeacon Rev. Can. Bethel Namara joined to support him (Namara) to mobilize for funds to buy a car to replace his (Namara) that was torched down by unknown people in 2014 during the Sheema conflicts with the Diocese. “When you’ve something you want, you demand it peacefully not violently,” Tumwesigye stressed.
Tumwesigye said, “Such a person who went to the extent of burning the car would have killed the owner if he got him in.”
Lay. Canon Charles Aine who was the chief guest at Namara’s function also recalled how he was threatened and intimidated by the ring leaders of the conflict because he was not supporting their conflict.
Tumwesigye appealed to Christians to instead support the clergy and their families to develop since they spend most of their time attending to God’s people.
Caption: Dr Elioda Tumwesigye (right) and Moses Ariho aka Kituzi at the function.
Over Sh15million was raised in cash and pledges with Aine contributing Sh5million on top of pledging to modernize the church’s Alter. On his part, Aine commended Tumwesigye for being a good example in parliament and in cabinet.
Moses Ariho the Kituzi Company Director also urged the Heads of Laities to liaise with Christians and come up with ways of supporting the families of the clergy socially and economically. Ariho however challenged church leaders to put more efforts in the education sector by revamping most of the church founded schools. End.
