Mengo blasts church over Muteesa 1
Jun 29, 2010
THE Buganda kingdom minister for gender and community development, Apollonia Mugumbya, has criticised the Catholic Church in Uganda for playing down the role of the kingdom in the establishment and consolidation of the Catholic faith in the country.
By Mathias Mazinga
THE Buganda kingdom minister for gender and community development, Apollonia Mugumbya, has criticised the Catholic Church in Uganda for playing down the role of the kingdom in the establishment and consolidation of the Catholic faith in the country.
“Indeed, the liturgy of the Catholic Church is beautiful and organised. However, I am disappointed that those who arranged it made no provision to pray for the late king Muteesa I.
“We all know that it was king Muteesa who invited the pioneer missionaries, who brought us the Catholic faith and also advanced our civilisation, which is why sidelining him in prayers is not pleasing,†Mugumbya said.
She was speaking during celebrations to mark 131 years of the first Mass (Catholic eucharistic service) in Uganda at Mapeera-Nabulagala Catholic Church, Rubaga on Sunday.
Mugumbya disclosed that the reigning king, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi, was worried about the future of his kingdom. She urged religious leaders to pray for Muteesa 1, Mutebi and the Buganda kingdom.
The ceremony was attended by the Archbishop of Gulu, Rt. Rev. John Baptist Odama, the Provincial Superior of the White Fathers, Fr. Rudi Lehnertz, and the parish priest, Fr. Richard Nnyombi.
Nnyombi apologised to the kingdom on behalf of the church for not giving due prominence to Muteesa in the prayers.
He, however, said Muteesa’s role in the establishment of the Catholic Church was greatly acknowledged by all Catholics, saying his name is mentioned whenever reference is made to the history of the church.
Odama backed Nnyombi’s remarks. Mugumbya and her husband showed to the church leaders a framed letter, which Muteesa I wrote to the Queen of England in 1875, inviting the missionaries to Uganda.
THE Buganda kingdom minister for gender and community development, Apollonia Mugumbya, has criticised the Catholic Church in Uganda for playing down the role of the kingdom in the establishment and consolidation of the Catholic faith in the country.
“Indeed, the liturgy of the Catholic Church is beautiful and organised. However, I am disappointed that those who arranged it made no provision to pray for the late king Muteesa I.
“We all know that it was king Muteesa who invited the pioneer missionaries, who brought us the Catholic faith and also advanced our civilisation, which is why sidelining him in prayers is not pleasing,†Mugumbya said.
She was speaking during celebrations to mark 131 years of the first Mass (Catholic eucharistic service) in Uganda at Mapeera-Nabulagala Catholic Church, Rubaga on Sunday.
Mugumbya disclosed that the reigning king, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi, was worried about the future of his kingdom. She urged religious leaders to pray for Muteesa 1, Mutebi and the Buganda kingdom.
The ceremony was attended by the Archbishop of Gulu, Rt. Rev. John Baptist Odama, the Provincial Superior of the White Fathers, Fr. Rudi Lehnertz, and the parish priest, Fr. Richard Nnyombi.
Nnyombi apologised to the kingdom on behalf of the church for not giving due prominence to Muteesa in the prayers.
He, however, said Muteesa’s role in the establishment of the Catholic Church was greatly acknowledged by all Catholics, saying his name is mentioned whenever reference is made to the history of the church.
Odama backed Nnyombi’s remarks. Mugumbya and her husband showed to the church leaders a framed letter, which Muteesa I wrote to the Queen of England in 1875, inviting the missionaries to Uganda.