Museveni ‘raids’ Orthodox church after Bobi praising critical Bishop

President Museveni will be chief guest at the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the Uganda Orthodox Cathedral Church at Lubya Hill in Namungoona, Kampala district today.

The president who is also expected to make a personal contribution to the church, will be hosted by the Archbishop of the Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga, who has been firing on all cylinders against the National Resistance Movement and government previously.

Lwanga in a previous media appearance last week warned that the NRM government would collapse because it ‘had disturbed the nation very much’, adding that the NRM exit will be the begining of good things in this country.

“We are going to suffer human rights abuse until NRM is dissolved. And it is going to dissolve very soon. I say this prophetically; it is not going to be there because it has disturbed this nation very much. It is going to dissolve,” Lwanga said.

Lwanga claimed that the NRM are treating Ugandans like they own the country and this will be their downfall, which is coming shortly.

The archbishop also took a swipe at the judiciary, claiming that the four judges that voted in favor of removing the age limit, are subscribers to the NRM.

“All the four judges are for NRM,” he said

In response however, the party deputy secretary general Richard Todwong, said Lwanga should recall the other regimes that have ben in power and understand that NRM is far different.

“The Bishop grew up in other regimes, he should be able to believe that it (NRM) is much better than all those regimes he has seen before in Uganda. I wouldn’t want to say that he (Lwanga) is a prophet of doom, but NRM will not go through wishful thinking.”

On the issues of judges, Todwond said Lwanga should look at the democratic side of the government which is not accusing the other three judges of not supporting age limit removal.

“Those who went against us, why aren’t we accusing them of being pro-opposition? That is how democratic we are as a government.”

Lwanga impresses opposition, gets Bobi Wine praise

Lwanga’s comments earned him lavish from people power head Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu who on April 27 dedicated an entire post on his popular Facebook page.

“It gives us great joy to see religious leaders who speak truth to power in these perilous times in our country. His Eminence Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga, Archbishop of the Uganda Orthodox Church is such a leader. I am personally humbled and inspired by your boldness, courage and commitment to our country and its citizens. We pray that God continues to bless you, and hope that you will inspire more leaders in all fields to speak against injustice, unfairness and impunity,” Bobi wrote.

 

Lwanga the critique

The archbishop has been dominantly critical of the government and President Museveni most of the time.

In January last year, Lwanga lashed back at Museveni’s decree to keep religious leaders away from preaching and involving in politics.

“Politicians think that everything belongs to them, yet they are living on our taxes and they forget they are our and God’s servants. The work to show the people where they have to go is ours, not Museveni’s,” Lwanga said.

Museveni in an earlier address had lambasted religious leaders for what he called ‘arrogance’ which makes them want to comment ‘authoritatively’ on each and everything even without necessarily verifying its authenticity.

In December 2017, Lwanga lashed at Museveni for being a poor leader, failing to prepare a successor after ‘several years of enjoying this country’.

He also chided Museveni’s ministers for being selfish, corrupt and interested in personal gains rather than those of the country and its citizens.

He had in an earlier address condemned the age limit removal, saying it was ‘negative to the positivity of the people of Uganda’. He said the ruling party is ‘selfish’ and dictatorial in that it suffocates the opposition.

In April 2018, Lwanga condemned the rampant killings in the country following the murder of women in Entebbe and Wakiso areas. He also used the same address to claim that he was being spied on and that certain people were trailing him.

Does the orthodox Church matter to him?

According to records from the National Bureau of Statistics, the Orthodox church represents about 1 percent of the population, this puts them at about half a million.

The church is spread around 9 deaneries across the country among which include; Central, Luwero -Nakasongola, Mukono- Buikwe, Busoga region, Namutumba- Mbale- Soroti, Mubende Sembabule, Fort Portal, Lira and Gulu.

The deaneries are further subdivided into over 100 parishes to reach grassroot communities across the country.

Second religious critic in Museveni’s trap?

Lwanga will be the second religious critic in Museveni’s trap after his namesake, Kampala Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, who has since gone slow on criticising President Museveni ever since the duo holding a private meeting in April last year.

The meeting came against the backdrop of Lwanga’s claims the government had planted spies on him.

Following the meeting, Lwanga in November praised Museveni for promoting peace in Uganda while at the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Uganda Martyrs University in Nkozi, Mpigi District.

Earlier in April, Museveni donated Shs500m to a savings and credit society started by Kampala Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga.

The two then criticised the media for alleged exaggeration with intent to cause a rift between them.

Museveni and religious leaders

President Museveni could be on a strategy campaign amongst religious leaders.  On the same day, he will be expected to meet the muslim community in Gayaza where they will launch a book on his achievements.

Museveni last month attended the installation of the Mbrarara District Khadi, Sheikh Abdullah Mukwaya, where he promised government support for the projects of the muslim community. He donated a brand new car at the same event.

Before, that, Museveni had been chief guest at the centenary celebrations of Mbarara Junior School which is affiliated to Ankole Diocese, Church of Uganda. He lavished praise on the church for contributing to Uganda’s education.