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The Bishop of Busoga diocese, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Paul Samson Naimanhye, has turned up with a cannula placed on his right hand.

On Saturday, he was presiding over prayers during celebrations at which members of the Mothers Union in Busoga diocese marked their St. Mary’s day.

The Busoga diocesan secretary the Rev. Can. Aggrey Kasadha recounted how the bishop had left his hospital bed to preside over the event held at St. James church in the heart of Jinja city.

The Vice President, Rtd. Maj. Jessica Alupo, represented President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the event which attracted dignitaries including the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga.

Kasadaga told the crowd that the bishop, together with his wife Lydia Naimanhye had been unwell for a while.

As he moved, the bishop took short steps he walked with difficulty closely monitored by junior clergy.

Naimanhye underwent an operation of transurethral resection of a bladder tumor (TURBT) on December 22, 2023. Thereafter he scaled down his activities.

Despite the successful surgery that was carried out from EUROCARE hospital Nansana, this kept him rare in public without celebrating key prayers.

He missed both Christmas Day, New Year’s Day prayers, and Palm Sunday. The diocesan Sub-Dean, the Rev. Can. Dr. Joy Mukisa Isabirye presided over prayers at Christ’s Cathedral Bugembe, the main seat of Busoga diocese.

On Easter Sunday prayers, the bishop attended the third service missing the first and second one.

During the Saturday function, Naimanhye confirmed he was unwell.

"I could have spent hours talking but not today. I am sick and I won’t preach.
Since the main objective of this event is to raise funds for the Mothers Union project,  we should all embrace it,” he said.

He added: “Whenever it rains, we have to harvest and since we have guests in our midst, let us all play our part,” he urged.

He congratulated both Alupo and Kadaga for retaining their positions during the recent reshuffle.

“I want to congratulate the Vice president and Our own Maama Kadaga for retaining the two slots as First Deputy Premier and minister for EAC, Kadaga is our own,” said Naimanhye drawing ululation from the crowd.

Immediately after assuming her seat, Alupo who was earlier seen speaking on the phone said she had briefed Museveni about Naimanhye’s health status condition, to which the president expressed sympathy and offered sh10m towards his treatment which was wired and handed to him.

“I have talked to the president and briefed him about your health and he has offered sh10m towards your treatment, in case of any further assistance, he said you let him know directly,” said Alupo drawing applause from the congregation.

Meanwhile, Kadaga pledged commitment to support Bishop's dream to complete the project.

"We last met on March 14, 2024, during the inauguration of the Jinja city council land board.

“I apologize for not regularly checking on you but I pray that you get better and we work on the project I discussed with you,” said Kadaga.

Natasha Isabirye, the diocesan president of Mothers Union hailed Kadaga and Alupo for their generosity towards their project.

She also lauded Museveni for the financial support since they began the project.

The Mothers Union led by Jane Kainamura acted as a play on how some women are lured into witchcraft in order to be loved by their husbands and eventually end up ruining their marriages.