Haya mambo ya udini sasa yanashika kasi ya hatari East Africa!http://www.observer.ug/index.php?vi...nt&print=1&page=&option=com_content&Itemid=59 Written by Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda Wednesday
President Museveni is worried that his Vice President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, continues to hold secret night meetings with leaders of the Catholic Church in a bid to gain political advantage.
Museveni has also ordered a probe into allegations that the Minister of Security, John Patrick Amama Mbabazi, is mobilizing Protestants as a way of countering Bukenya.
The two; Bukenya being NRM Vice Chairman (Buganda) and Mbabazi the partys Secretary General, are front-runners in the race to succeed Museveni. The President has however not indicated that he is about to retire.
Catholicism and Protestantism are the biggest religious denominations in the country and political leaders have always courted them for support.
The 2002 population census put the number of Catholics in the country at 10.2 million, and Protestants at 8.7 million.
The latest political concerns over religion came to light on July 2, 2009 when Museveni met the Kigezi Parliamentary Group, which is headed by Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi at State House Nakasero. Kigezi comprises Rukungiri, Kabale, Kisoro and Kanungu districts.
Museveni, who is realigning his political forces ahead of the 2011 general elections, had invited Kigezi legislators upon the request of Muhwezi who wanted him to help resolve internal bickering in the group.
In fact, according to State House sources, Museveni began by telling his guests that he had heard that there was bad blood between Henry Banyenzaki (Rubanda West) and Hope Mwesigye (Kabale Woman MP).
He also mentioned the bad blood between Dr. Chris Baryomunsi (Kinkizi East) and Amama Mbabazi (Kinkizi West). There is also bad blood between Mbabazi and Muhwezi (Rujumbura). With this background, Museveni told his guests, I have invited you to discuss how to stop the infighting and rebuild cohesion.
Museveni told the MPs that he had been informed that a bishop (John Ntegyerize of Kinkizi Diocese - Church of Uganda) had made some divisive remarks likely to worsen infighting in Kigezi.
Wabudeya to probe Mbabazi
The President told the meeting that he had heard that the bishop made sectarian remarks in church when he reportedly told his congregation at Kihihi Church of Uganda on June 7, that Protestants were being marginalised when it comes to government jobs. He reportedly invited Protestants to contest all electoral posts available in the area and allegedly urged the faithful to vote for only Protestants.
When Museveni ended his remarks and opened the floor, Kanungu Woman MP, Jacqueline Kyatuhaire, who was itching to respond, began by telling the President that she was surprised that Mbabazi, who was present in the church when these said sectarian remarks were made, didnt condemn them.
Baryomunsi re-enforced Kyatuhaire by alleging that, in fact, Mbabazi was promoting sectarianism in Kigezi.
Baryomunsi claimed that although Muhwezi played a leading role in calling for Mbabazis resignation over the sale of his land to a public body, NSSF last year, the NRM Secretary General had retaliated by waging a sectarian war against Catholic MPs from Kigezi.
During a talk-show on his own radio station, Kinkizi FM, shortly after Parliament cleared Mbabazi of any wrong-doing in the Temangalo land transation, the Security Minister reportedly accused Baryomunsi, Henry Banyenzaki and Wilfred Niwagaba (Ndorwa East-Kabale), of having been behind a plot to bring him down.
Baryomunsi told Museveni that Mbabazi singled out the three who played a peripheral role merely because they are Catholics, conveniently leaving out the ring leader, Muhwezi, because he is Protestant.
But Muhwezi reportedly retorted that Mbabazi drew him into the Temangalo saga to claim that Bahororo were against Bahima.
At this stage, Museveni instructed the Minister for the Presidency, Dr. Beatrice Wabudeya who was present, to find a recording of what transpired at Kihihi Church on the day Bishop Ntegyereize reportedly made the remarks.
Museveni promised that the meeting would listen to the recording and establish whether the remarks were indeed sectarian, and whether Mbabazi should have condemned them.
- NRM bosses accused of sectarianism,
- VP meets Catholics at night,
- Mbabazi mobilises Protestants.
Museveni has also ordered a probe into allegations that the Minister of Security, John Patrick Amama Mbabazi, is mobilizing Protestants as a way of countering Bukenya.
The two; Bukenya being NRM Vice Chairman (Buganda) and Mbabazi the partys Secretary General, are front-runners in the race to succeed Museveni. The President has however not indicated that he is about to retire.
Catholicism and Protestantism are the biggest religious denominations in the country and political leaders have always courted them for support.
The 2002 population census put the number of Catholics in the country at 10.2 million, and Protestants at 8.7 million.
The latest political concerns over religion came to light on July 2, 2009 when Museveni met the Kigezi Parliamentary Group, which is headed by Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi at State House Nakasero. Kigezi comprises Rukungiri, Kabale, Kisoro and Kanungu districts.
Museveni, who is realigning his political forces ahead of the 2011 general elections, had invited Kigezi legislators upon the request of Muhwezi who wanted him to help resolve internal bickering in the group.
In fact, according to State House sources, Museveni began by telling his guests that he had heard that there was bad blood between Henry Banyenzaki (Rubanda West) and Hope Mwesigye (Kabale Woman MP).
He also mentioned the bad blood between Dr. Chris Baryomunsi (Kinkizi East) and Amama Mbabazi (Kinkizi West). There is also bad blood between Mbabazi and Muhwezi (Rujumbura). With this background, Museveni told his guests, I have invited you to discuss how to stop the infighting and rebuild cohesion.
Museveni told the MPs that he had been informed that a bishop (John Ntegyerize of Kinkizi Diocese - Church of Uganda) had made some divisive remarks likely to worsen infighting in Kigezi.
Wabudeya to probe Mbabazi
The President told the meeting that he had heard that the bishop made sectarian remarks in church when he reportedly told his congregation at Kihihi Church of Uganda on June 7, that Protestants were being marginalised when it comes to government jobs. He reportedly invited Protestants to contest all electoral posts available in the area and allegedly urged the faithful to vote for only Protestants.
When Museveni ended his remarks and opened the floor, Kanungu Woman MP, Jacqueline Kyatuhaire, who was itching to respond, began by telling the President that she was surprised that Mbabazi, who was present in the church when these said sectarian remarks were made, didnt condemn them.
Baryomunsi re-enforced Kyatuhaire by alleging that, in fact, Mbabazi was promoting sectarianism in Kigezi.
Baryomunsi claimed that although Muhwezi played a leading role in calling for Mbabazis resignation over the sale of his land to a public body, NSSF last year, the NRM Secretary General had retaliated by waging a sectarian war against Catholic MPs from Kigezi.
During a talk-show on his own radio station, Kinkizi FM, shortly after Parliament cleared Mbabazi of any wrong-doing in the Temangalo land transation, the Security Minister reportedly accused Baryomunsi, Henry Banyenzaki and Wilfred Niwagaba (Ndorwa East-Kabale), of having been behind a plot to bring him down.
Baryomunsi told Museveni that Mbabazi singled out the three who played a peripheral role merely because they are Catholics, conveniently leaving out the ring leader, Muhwezi, because he is Protestant.
But Muhwezi reportedly retorted that Mbabazi drew him into the Temangalo saga to claim that Bahororo were against Bahima.
At this stage, Museveni instructed the Minister for the Presidency, Dr. Beatrice Wabudeya who was present, to find a recording of what transpired at Kihihi Church on the day Bishop Ntegyereize reportedly made the remarks.
Museveni promised that the meeting would listen to the recording and establish whether the remarks were indeed sectarian, and whether Mbabazi should have condemned them.
