WE ARE GOING TO COURT TO STOP ELECTION OF NEW BISHOP — SHEEMA X-NS’ LAWYER

BY WILBER MUHWEZI
IN BUSHENYI
A lawyer and synod member who represents Sheema district Christians opposed to retiring West Ankole Bishop Yona Katonene yesterday evening revealed that he will file a case in Mbarara high court on Monday sept 19, 2016 stopping the election of a new bishop due to the new synod’s re-election of Mavin Baryaruha as diocesan chancellor.
Aine Katabarwa told www.mknewslink.com news website editor after re-election of Mr. Baryaruha that he has pending corruption cases at the anti-corruption court in Kampala.
“I raised my hand alone to propose for election of the deputy diocesan chancellor to avoid a stalemate in case he[Baryaruha is convicted] but bishop Katonene never allowed me to speak” Katabarwa noted.
“Still, it is against Christian morals for some one accused of corruption to lead the church in such sensitive position. Eve our constitution of west Ankole diocese doesnot allow this” He added.
Mr. Baryaruha together with other former staff of Uganda National Roads Authority[UNRA] are accused of embezzling billions of shillings meant to construct Katosi road in Mukono district and other deals at the authority.
The election of the new bishop of the diocese never took place in June 2016 by the house bishops because Katabarwa said that he petitioned the bishops over chancellor Mavin Baryaruha’s pending criminal cases.
“Am going to petition the house of bishops again as well as courts of law” He said.
Senior elder Yowas Makaru from Sheema fought hard and raised all the above issues before yesterday’s closed synod meeting but in vain. Baryaruha was however voted overwhelmingly.
Can. David Kabigumira, sheema district chairman and former chairman of sheema stakeholders opposed to Bishop Katonene noted that his group was not satisfied with what transpired in the synod yesterday.
The archbishop of the church of Uganda Stanly Ntagali who was in attendance yesterday with other three Bishops last month dissolved the old synod after it had served for four years because it had been put in place after faulting procedures.
Christians in Sheema district have been in running battles with Bishop Katonene for four years. They banned him from visiting churches in the area and have been collecting tyth and managing their own clergy.
The synod yesterday elected nomination committee/electoral college to elect two names to a special sitting of the house of Bishops and then a bishop of west ankole is announced before Oct. 02, 2016 when Bishop Katonene is supposed to leave office.
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