EXTRACT FROM MONITOR
Repent, Church tells VP Bukenya
By Alex B. Atuhaire
Dec 9, 2004
- Monitor
'I respect everyone's way of praying',
says Prof. Gilbert Bukenya.
KAMPALA - The Vice President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, yesterday denied that he prayed for the third term for President Yoweri Museveni when he was hosted in a witchdoctor's shrine in Masaka on Monday.
At the same time, religious leaders and members of society have urged Bukenya to repent.
Bukenya told a press conference at his Ntinda offices in Kampala that while he visited Hajji Bull Katale's shrine near Sunga on Bukakata Road, he prayed to God to give him strength to finish his visit in Masaka but not for the third term as sections of the media reported. The VP also said he prayed for the success of a number of rice farmers in the district.
... Meanwhile,
Agnes Nandutu, Simon Kasyate & Hussein Bogere report that the Catholic Church has asked Vice President Prof Gilbert Bukenya to repent for visiting a witchdoctor's shrine. The Chancellor of Kampala Archdioceses Msgr Emmanuel Kimbowa said the commandments are clear.
The first commandment clearly states that Thou shalt not worship any other God" and so anyone who goes to a witchdoctor's shrine alienates himself/herself from the mainstream church, said Kimbowa. He was reacting to media reports that Prof. Bukenya visited a witchdoctor's shrine while on a tour of Masaka upland rice farms.
If it is true that he actually went to Masaka to purposely visit a witch doctor, his conscience definitely tells him his actions were not right. If he is a true Christian he should repent, said Kimbowa.
Bukenya reportedly prayed at Hajji Bull Katare's shrine on Monday where he was taken through a rigorous regime of rituals.
Asked whether the Catholic Church would consider excommunicating any faithful who visited a witchdoctor's shrine, Kimbowa said religion is all about forgiveness and not punishment. We cannot denounce him on the pulpit. He just has to receive the Sacrament of Penance and God in heaven will forgive him, Kimbowa said.
The retired Archbishop of the Church of Uganda Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyooyo said such an act by a Christian is simply sacrilegious. "It is of great shame that a Christian...should go to a witchdoctor's shrine for whatever reasons. It's great shame, Nkoyooyo said.
He prescribed repentance for the Vice President. God in his abundant mercies and love will forgive him if he seeks him through repentance, Nkoyooyo advised.
The vice chairman of Born Again Churches in Uganda Dr Joseph Sserwadda said the VP was wrong to evoke evil spirits on matters concerning the country.
He has brought a curse on this nation and he should denounce it by repenting. This shows that the leadership of this country has backslidden, he said.
Sserwadda said Bukenya should have gone to any other church, which has Godly spirits.
The leader of the Muslim Tabliqs, Sheikh Sulaiman Kakeeto, said he doesn't know the belief of the Catholic Church. He said, however, that Muslims don't believe in witchcraft.
If we are seeking help, we should not go to the shrines but inquire from the Almighty God, Kakeeto said.
Kakeeto said only God could grant a third term for President Museveni but not the evil spirits.
He denied that the owner of the shrine Hajji Bruhan Katale was a Muslim.
He only owns the name but he is not a Muslim. A Muslim cannot be a witchdoctor. We don't own shrines because we believe in one God, he said. Speaking to journalists at Uganda House, UPC's Cecilia Ogwal said
She said He should consider resigning. "The freedom of worship in the Constitution demands us to worship the God of truth, righteousness and light not god of darkness and lies", she said.
That shows how desperate the Vice President is. To visit a shrine is a clear sign of desperation, Democratic Party chief Dr Paul Ssemogerere said. He said Bukenya should make it clear whether he went for a visit or for prayers.
