Namirembe Diocese on fire?

After just six months in office, Bishop Banja seems to have difficult time getting along with both clergy and Christians of Namirembe Diocese.

For instance, the Cathedral choir and the Organist at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe has refused to sing at all events at the Cathedral where he presides. Such days include Christmas day, New Year’s day and Easter.

Slowly, the boycott which have also attracted the organist is covering all services at the Cathedral where Bishop Banja is to preside.

Thus, the Cathedral choir and the organist refused to sing at funeral service of the late Bishop Emeritus Michael Senyimba, Former Vice Chancellor of Ndejje University which took place on March 21^st 2024 at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe.

With hundreds and hundreds of mourners in attendance, including Bishops, Government ministers and officials from Buganda government, The Cathedral organist and the choir left the service when they caught wind that Bishop Banja was to be in attendance, in what was clearly an embarrassment to Bishop Banja.

‘Banja is not our choice of a Bishop and we will never recognize him at the Cathedral’, said one of the cathedral choir members who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Yet this is not only about choir members. The Clergy seems to be up in arms too.

When Canon Banja was announced by the House of Bishops on 20^th November, 2023 as the next Bishop of Namirembe, the Diocesan Treasurer, Canon Membe Kijjambu tendered in his resignation to the new Bishop which was to take effect on January 1, 2024. He cited personal reasons for the resignation.

At the consecration service of the new Bishop (Banja) on December 10^th 2023, there were hardly any clergy at the Cathedral and archdeacons. It is alleged that the Cathedral was full of laity who did not even fill up the Cathedral.

On Wednesday, 8^th May 2024, when the new Bishop invited both the clergy and lay leaders for their first retreat at Uganda Namugongo Martyrs shrine in Namugongo, at a meeting which was also to prepare for the martyrs days celebrations-it was also boycotted by the clergy. There were only two Priests present, the archdeacons of Gayaza and Luzira, who are believed to be chosen by him.

Unfortunately, Bishop Banja’s modus operandi is deficient.

Immediately after his consecration as new Bishop, Banja announced the motto for the Diocese during his first year as Bishop- ‘You did not choose me’, John. 15:16 which according to onlookers, was a clear vindication to the allegations that his election as Bishop was fraudulent.

In Banja’s calculus, the Bishop also seems to believe that the best way to defend oneself is to go on attack.

Thus, at his first Diocesan council meeting on May 17^th, 2024, he has immediately cracked the whip. With immediate effect, the Cathedral choir and the organist have been suspended for their insubordination.

In what is clearly unprecedented, the Bishop has also instituted Clergy transfers right in the middle of the year and Priest who are believed to be behind the ‘resistance’ have been transferred to remoted pasrishes. Thus, the Priest of Kireka was transfereed to Kitegomba. The Priest in charge of Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, who is believed to have played a big role in failing the Namugongo clergy retreat was also moved.

Whether this is an attempt by both parties to create their own space or shape their own public persona, this is a matter for anther day.

One thing for sure, such fights are increasingly becoming vicious in our day, even when the stakes could not be any higher.

Divisions between Christians not only lead to complete abandonment of the value and duty of the church as the custodian of peace but rachets up our well- kept fraternity.

“Yet in the Church”, the Holy Father, Pope Francis once said, “We are called to pray and to listen to one another, seeking to understand each other’s concerns and asking ourselves, before enquiring of others, whether or not, we have been docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit”.

Rev. Can. Erich Kasirye

CHAPLAIN, Kampala Capital City Authority