Mrs Orombi, her husband, the Musevenis, the Gidudus and outgoing Bishop Wabulakha pose for the camera after Gidudu’s consecration in Mbale

By Milton Olupot and Daniel Edyegu

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has praised Anglican bishops for resisting homosexuality.

“I salute the Archbishop and bishops of Africa for resisting disorientation and a decadent culture, which he said was being passed by Western nations.”

Describing homosexuality as mtumbavu (Swahili for stupid), the President said: “Don’t fear, resist and do not compromise on that. It is a danger not only to the believers but to the whole of Africa. It is bad if our children become complacent and think that people who are not in order are alright.”

Museveni was speaking yesterday as chief guest at the consecration of the Rev. Canon Patrick Gidudu, as the seventh bishop of Mbale Diocese, at St Andrew’s Cathedral. “These foreigners should go and practice their nonsense elsewhere. That is the minimum demand.” Museveni donated a new Mitsubishi Pajero vehicle to the enthroned bishop.

“When I learnt that the bishop was being consecrated I thought of shoes for the bishop. Since walking is now outdated, I thought I should give him a car, which is parked outside,” he said as he handed the keys to the bishop, prompting cheers from the fully packed church.

Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, who presided over the consecration, is spearheading a global protest against homosexuality.

He thanked the Government for its support. “The Anglican Church is facing significant challenges but I would like to assure you that the church is steady,” he said.

Orombi advised him to be a servant of the flock and not expect to be served. “Your mode of leadership should be that, I came not to be served but to serve.”

The archbishop urged the Government to continue fighting corruption and not to give up the peace talks with the LRA rebels.

Gidudu promised to work with the Government to provide services to the people and to help the clergy acquire pastoral skills.

Gidudu was born in 1956 in Bumadanda, Bufumbo, and Mbale district. He went to Bukonde Primary school, then Mbale S.S. and St. Bernard’s College Masaka and Bishop Tucker Theological College Mukono. He was ordained priest in 1986.

The Church of Uganda and other Anglican provinces in Africa, South America and Australia recently formed a new movement to challenge Canterbury’s failure to discipline the Episcopal Church of America, which recognise same sex marriages and consecrated gay priests.

Last month, a quarter of the world’s bishops angered by the ordination of gay bishop Gene Robinson in the US, boycotted the once-a-decade Lambeth Conference of bishops in the UK.

Several bishops, clergy, government officials and MPs attended.

Dr. Kizza Besigye, the head of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and Miria Obote of the Uganda People’s Congress also attended. When the President entered the church, the congregation stood up except Nandala Mafabi (FDC) and Besigye who walked out shortly after amid murmurs.