Chaos and confusion gripped Katwe Martyrs Church when congregants protested during elections to fill 16 church leadership positions, alleging that outsiders had been allowed to vote.
Large numbers of Christians had turned up as early as 7am to participate, only for the process to descend into disorder.
Trouble erupted when several congregants accused church officials of permitting non-members to sway the outcome. Sharp exchanges quickly followed between sections of the congregation and the presiding leaders.
The church’s head of development, Canon Guster Lule Ntakke, called for an immediate suspension of the election, citing irregularities and inadequate voter verification.
His concerns were echoed by other members, who demanded that only legitimate parishioners be allowed to vote.
However, the presiding cleric, Rev Flobia Ssebunya Mboowa, insisted the election proceed as planned. Her firm stance aggravated tensions, with some congregants accusing leadership of ignoring their concerns.
During the commotion, some Christians grabbed and removed buckets used as improvised ballot boxes, scattering several ballot papers on the floor before officials swiftly collected them.
The confrontation briefly escalated into scuffles before security personnel were deployed at all church entrances to restore calm and control access.
The voting exercise was temporarily suspended as leaders sought to stabilize the situation.
Outside the church, congregants expressed frustration over what they described as a compromised process, while some members walked out in protest.
Despite the chaos, ballots that had already been cast were counted, and the remaining ballot boxes were secured to prevent further interference. Voting later resumed during the second service under heightened security.
Dr Ntakke proposed that votes be counted and results announced immediately at each polling point to enhance transparency, but Rev Flobia declined, maintaining full control of the process.
She challenged anyone who felt more capable of managing the election to step forward, criticizing members for interfering.
Rev Nelson Kaweesa, former Provincial Secretary of Namirembe Diocese, condemned the disorder, attributing the turmoil to alleged participation by non-members.
He stressed that voter verification should have been conducted before allowing ballots.
While acknowledging the outgoing leadership’s four years of service, Rev. Kaweesa noted that the day’s events had projected a negative image of the church.
By the time this publication left the premises, vote counting was underway amid heightened tension, with congregants anxiously awaiting the final outcome.
