Tension is mounting in Rubanda District after a Church of Uganda lay reader under the Diocese of Kigezi allegedly refused to register a child for baptism because of the parents’ political affiliations.
Francis Twebaze, a Lay Reader at Kakyenaga Church of Uganda, is accused of turning away a family that supported the Minister of Finance (General Duties), Hon. Henry Musasizi, during the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primary elections held on July 17.
According to the aggrieved parents, Passy and Savera Ahimbisibwe, residents of Kakyenaga Village in Nyamweru Sub County, Rubanda East County, Twebaze told them he could not register their child for baptism because they backed Musasizi instead of Jogo Kenneth Biryabarema, the candidate allegedly favored by Twebaze and several church leaders in the area.
Speaking to our reporter, Ahimbisibwe said the lay reader openly told him that “anyone who lined up behind Musasizi is no longer part of the Anglican Church and cannot access its services.”
The controversy further deepened when Prudence Twinomugisha, who had been chosen as the child’s godparent, was also barred from participating in the ceremony.
Ahimbisibwe narrated that since the NRM primaries, he has been warned that he would no longer receive Holy Communion or be allowed to take part in any church activities because of his political choice.
CUE IN AHIMBISIBWE……ON THE MATTER……RR//
When contacted for a comment, Twebaze confirmed that he denied the baptism, claiming he was acting under instructions from his church superiors to exclude supporters of Minister Musasizi.
CUE IN TWEBAZE……ON THE MATTER……RR//
The incident has sparked public outrage, with residents accusing local church leaders of dragging partisan politics into the pulpit and dividing the Christian community along political lines.
