MPs Protest Museveni’s ‘Recruitment’ of Priests as ‘Spies’

A number of legislators affiliated to both Catholic and Anglican faiths have expressed disappointment with the penetration of spies into the church as alleged by the Archbishop of Kampala, Cyprian Kizito Lwanga.

Last week, Bishop Lwanga said that he had reliable information that the state had planted spies in the church and that they have been spreading lies to President Museveni about church leaders who are allegedly plotting to overthrow the government.

Mukono Municipality MP, Betty Nambooze, Emmanuel Ssempala Kigozi (Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipality), Joseph Ssewungu (Kalungu West) and Moses Kasibante (Rubaga North) noted that the alleged move is unacceptable and should be fought by any believer in religion.

Addressing the media at Parliament on Tuesday, the legislators said that it is unfortunate that the regime has penetrated into the church with the aim of killing the Catholic institution as the case has been with Islam.

Nambooze expressed concern that some priests are being used as intelligence spies which she said will in turn kill the trust between the priests and the followers.

The vocal legislator explained that the foundation of the church is the trust between the believers and the priests and that it begins with the sacrament of Penitence which requires one to have confidence in the priest.

“We now fear to go for penitence because you don’t know the priest; you can’t tell whether you are talking to the representative of Jesus or that of Mr. Museveni. And if you don’t go for penitence, you can’t go for the sacrament of Eucharist and without it you are faulting greatly on the religious teachings,” MP Nambooze told the press.

“We call upon government to withdraw their propagandists that they have sent to belittle the church to defame and abuse our religious leaders”.

She threatened that “if this doesn’t end we shall mobilize ourselves to defend our faith”.

The legislators have thus recommended for an independent commission of inquiry headed by some of the retired judges in the country to investigate Archbishop Lwanga’s submissions.

Kalungu West MP, Joseph Ssewungu said that it is now the intention of President Museveni to disorganize all the power centres in the country.

“After dividing the Muslims, the President has now started on the Catholic church but recruiting
priests as spies,” Ssewungu said.

MP, Ssempala attributed this to the failure by government to train competent spies.

“It is now very clear that President Museveni can’t afford to train spies that is why he has been recruiting crime preventers, Boda Boda 2010, prostitutes; but he should leave the resources of the church.”

Kasibante also condemned the attack on Bishop Kityo Luwalira saying the attack might have been planned by the authorities. He questioned the response of Police especially in regard to issuing a report which to him sounds suspicious.