Dissatisfied with a court ruling that reaffirmed the powers of the Church in the process of electing and consecrating a bishop under the Church of Uganda, four Christians have petitioned the court targeting individual bishops.
The Luweero District High Court has now summoned 37 bishops who allegedly constituted the House of Bishops meeting at Kabalega Resort in Hoima District on June 28, thereby nullifying the election of Rev. Godfrey Kasana as Bishop of Luweero.
In a civil suit filed before the Deputy Registrar of Court, Kenneth Tumwebaze, on December 6, the petitioners filed new applications demanding that the individual bishops file their respective defenses within 15 days from the date of service of the summons to court.
“You are hereby requested to file a defense in the said suit within 15 days from the date of service. If you fail to defend yourself within the mentioned period, the plaintiff may continue the trial and the judgment may be rendered in your absence,” reads in part the court summons to the respective 37 bishops, signed by Mr. Tumwebaze .
The four petitioners are Moses Bemba, Moses Kakembo, John Saight Ssendowoza and Christopher Sajjabi Katende.
The bishops are accused of not giving Archbishop Kasana a fair trial regarding the accusations against him.
Christians, among others, want the court to stop the ongoing process of nomination and election of the fourth bishop of Luweero Diocese.
They also want the court to declare Rev. Can Kasana as the fourth duly elected bishop of Luweero Diocese to pave the way for his consecration ceremony.
They accuse the 37 bishops of not giving Reverend Kasana a fair trial and of not presenting evidence on the allegations of infidelity.
The demands of the four Christians are no different from those raised in the previous case in which the High Court ruled in favor of the Church and Archbishop Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu in October 2023.
But Mr. Erasto Kibirango, the lawyer for the aggrieved Christians, told the publication yesterday that unlike the other complaint previously filed against the archbishop, the new case concerns the respective bishops’ individual participation in an alleged human rights violation fundamentals of Reverend Can Kasana. when they failed to give him a fair trial.
“Unlike the first case in which the High Court handed down its decision, this case is not about questions of faith but about the violation of Rev. Godfrey Kasana’s fundamental constitutional human rights to a fair trial. We even serve two of the bishops who recently retired but were members of the House of Bishops in July 2023,” he said.
The Christians, through M/S Kibirango & Partners Advocates, said the process of serving every bishop in their respective dioceses was underway.
Those who were prosecuted
The 37 bishops include retired Bishops Eridard Nsubuga of Luweero and Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira of Namirembe dioceses, Michael Lubowa (Buganda Central), Sheldon Mwesigwa (Ankole), Samuel Egesa Bogere (Bukedi), Samuel Kahuma (Bunyoro Kitara), Paul Samson Naimanhe (Busoga), Patrick Wakula (Central Busoga), Gaddie Akanjuna (Kigezi), Dan Zoreka (Kinkizi), Prof Alfred Olwa (Lango), Cranimer Mugisha (Muhabura), Reuben Kisembo (Rwenzori), Joseph Abura (Karamoja) , Wilson Kitara (Kitgum), Michael Okwi Esakhan (Kumi), Charles Andaku (Madi and West Nile), George Kasangaki (Masindi), Wilson Nandaah (Mbale), Dr James Bukomeko (Mityana) Enos Kagodo (Mukono), Ozelle Awinjo ( Nebbi), Stephen Namanya (Ankole North), James Nasak (Karamoja North), Patrick Tugume (Kigezi North), Samuel Gidudu (Mbale North), Godfrey Loum (Uganda North), Amos Magezi (Ankole West), Paul Kaptoo Masaba (Nebbi ), Hosea Odongo (Soroti), Nathan Ahimbisibwe (Ankole South), Nason Baruku (Rwenzori South), Johnson Twinomujuni (Ankole West), Henry Katumba (Buganda West), Julius Caesar Niina Otim (Lango West) and the Bishop of Rwenzori Is George K Turyasingura.
