WHO IS CANON EPHRAIM BAMUGYENDERA WHO REJECTED ARCHBISHOP’S HANDSHAKE AND FORGIVENESS?

BY WILBER MUHWEZI-KASIBANTE

IN MITOOMA—-

Lay canon Ephraim Bamugyendera is a retired senior education officer at Mitooma district local government. Initially he started as grade three teacher, head teacher primary later education officer after mitooma where he is born was granted a district status in July 2010.

On Thursday Jan. 19, 2017 while at Mitooma archdeaconry headquarters during a service of the acting bishop of west ankole and archbishop of the province of the church of Uganda snubbed Archbishop’s handshake and the olive branch of forgiveness.

Can. Bamugyendera is among the 11 canons and Christians who took the archbishop to court stopping from him to take over episcopal jurisdiction of west Ankole diocese after the retirement of controversial Bishop Katonene on Oct. 02, 2016.

Archbishop Ntagali reconciled with all including Can Yorakama Bashaasha the lead petitioner, Canon Kisembo and Eliab Turyomubaingi. All these three shock hands with him archbishop on Jan. 15, 2017 and forgave each other but Can Bamugyendera stunned the congregation at Mitooma archdeaconry and refused openly to accept forgiveness from the archbishop.

The archbishop’s commissary and the chairman LC5 Mitooma district while on radio in a talk show at Crane radio in Ishaka yesterday morning Jan. 21, 2017 in political program ‘Orusaniya rwamaziima’, Benon Karyaija told listeners that what Can. Bamugyendera did in his presence was the worst thing ever done by a canon in the church of Uganda.

He added that diocesan tribunal will sit soon to decide whether Bamugyendera should continue to hold the title of canon. A diocesan tribunal is chaired by the diocesan chancellor Mavin Baryaruha and its terms of reference is discipline the clergy and even defalucal those who are unethical.

During RTD Bishop Katoneene this tribunal withdrew the title of canon from the current sheema district David Kabigumira and other three catechists were banned from the Church of Uganda because what the sitting Bishop and the tribunal termed as unbecoming behavior.

Can Bamuhyendera and the archbishop have had a rough time whereby Bamugyendera signed a letter abusing the archbishop and telling him not step in west Ankole diocese as caretaker in case at the time if the Katoneene is not given a successor before he retires.

According to observers, canon Bamugyendera spoilt the journey to reconciliation that is underway and even acted rudely to archbishop Ntagali which still spoiled his one week pastoral visit to west ankole which ended Friday Jan. 20, 2017.

www.mknewslink.com editor tried to reach out to the archbishop on phone but the phone of the man of God was switched off. But shall keep trying him to share with us the his feelings and when the tribunal will sit to decide on the fate of Can Bamuyendera.

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