Bishop tells off rival group as Christians shun church
Ankole Bishop Sheldon Mwesigwa confirms Christians during a service at St Augustine Church of Uganda, on Sunday. PHOTO BY PEREZ RUMANZI
Ntungamo- The Bishop of Ankole, Rt. Rev. Dr Sheldon Mwesigwa, has told Christians of Itojo Archdeaconry that they cannot use force to make him submit to their demand of going to South Ankole Diocese, but instead asked them to follow the right procedure.
Speaking during the service at St Augustine Church of Uganda on Sunday, his first visit to the archdeaconry since Christians openly protested his hold on the archdeaconry in December last year, Bishop Mwesigwa warned that force will not yield results.
“Keep in church and make sure the procedure is followed, make your demands through church meetings, not outside the church. But I want to tell you anywhere you will go, even when you go to the top most, using force will never get you anything,” he said.
No grudges
Bishop Mwesigwa said he has forgiven those against him but added that he has powers to close the church if they remain adamant and fail to abide by the leadership.
“I want to thank you for being saved, and born again. I want to tell you that in our hearts we have forgiven you and have no problem with you. Whatever went wrong we seek to be forgiven too,” he said.
He added: “‘I want to tell you there is no one who has authority over church property including land, no Christian can come and say I want to use this land because it is ours. You hear some bishop who closed the church and took away the keys. We have authority, if it goes to extremes.
The locus of power is vested in the registered trustees of the Church of Uganda not the Christians.”
A section of Christians including the head of Laity, Mr Myres Tumusiime Katahwa, had planned to block the Bishop’s visit to Itojo archdeaconry.
They, however, later abandoned the scheme but did not attend the Sunday church service.
“I decided to stay away so that I am not blamed for anything wrong that could have, happened (during the bishop’s visit), Mr Katahwa told Daily Monitor on Sunday.
The service was mainly attended by pupils from the nearby primary schools; Itojo Boys Primary School, Blue Hope Primary School, Itojo Progressive Primary School and Itojo Parents’ Primary School who comprised more than 60 per cent of the congregation.
There were no welcome songs from the church members as is always the norm for visiting bishops.
The treasurer of the parish, Mr Andrew Karugaba, was the only key parish committee member present.
Similar incident
Christians at Ruhanga Parish Church of Uganda in July rejected a priest sent to them by Ankole Diocese opting to have a lay leader as the head. Bishop Mwesigwa said this was self-defeating as they are denying themselves services.
He has asked Christians to remain calm and avoid spinning rumours on the issue at hand but rather seek God’s guidance.
