Politicians largely absent as Busoga concludes annual prayer week
Busoga Diocesan Bishop, the Rt Rev. Prof. Grace Lubaale, said the low turnout had been evident from the launch in Kampala, where fewer than 30 Basoga attended.
Kadaga (third right) flanked by Nakadaga as they joined religious leaders in praying for Busoga to reclaim its developmental glory during the closing of the prayer week in Mayuge on Sunday. (Photo by Jackie Nambogga).
_________________ A seemingly jovial Kadaga shakes hands with Claire Lubaale, flanked by her husband, Rt. Rev. Prof. Grace Lubaale, and other religious leaders as they welcomed her to Mayuge on Sunday. (Photo by Jackie Nambogga). Busoga Diocesan Bishop Rt. Rev. Prof. Grace Lubaale during the conclusion of the Busoga Prayer Week in Mayuge, where he said politicians remain a pillar in Uganda’s development programmes. (Photo by Jackie Nambogga).
The Busoga annual prayer week ended in Mayuge on September 27, 2026, with concerns over the low turnout of political leaders, despite the event being intended to bring together religious, political and cultural leaders, as well as Basoga from across the region.
Organised by the Busoga Consortium for Development (BCD), the climax of the annual prayers was held at the Mayuge district headquarters grounds and was attended by a handful of legislators and local leaders.
The prayers are held under the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda, which brings together religious denominations including the Roman Catholic Church, Church of Uganda (Anglicans), Orthodox Church, Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), Seventh-day Adventists (SDA), Born Again Faith (BAF) and the National Alliance of Pentecostal and Evangelical Churches in Uganda (NAPECU).
This year's fourth main edition was launched at All Saints Cathedral Nakasero in Kampala on September 21, 2026, with First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga as the chief guest.
However, the Busoga Diocesan Bishop, the Rt Rev. Prof. Grace Lubaale, said the low turnout had been evident from the launch in Kampala, where fewer than 30 Basoga attended.
Lubaale added that attendance was also low at Christ's Cathedral Bugembe, the main diocesan seat in Jinja City's Northern Division, where a special prayer service was held with Busoga Premier Dr Joseph Muvawala as the chief guest.
“We invited all the key Basoga in Kampala but never realised 30 of them, even at Christ’s Cathedral on Tuesday, the turnout was down,” he lamented.
Despite extensive mobilisation for the prayer climax in Mayuge, Lubaale regretted that there was no LC5 chairperson or Member of Parliament present to welcome Kadaga, who was the guest of honour on Sunday.
“You arrived when there was no LC5 chairperson and Member of Parliament to welcome you apart from us the religious leaders; this is how we are badly off,” he said.
Kadaga was later joined by the area woman legislator, Rukia Isanga Nakadama, who is also the Third Deputy Prime Minister and chairperson of the ministerial coordination committee for the BCD. A handful of LC5 chairpersons, MPs and resident commissioners also attended, although several seats in the reserved tent remained empty.
Of the 44 MPs from Busoga, only Sadala Wandera (Bugweri), Eunice Namatende (Bugiri Woman), Masitula Namatovu (Kamuli Municipality), Alex Ekoro Irukan (Bunya East) and Saleh Mpaata (Bunya South) attended. Patrick Kasajja (Bulamogi North-West) was the only one who sent an apology.
Although the resident district commissioners appeared to outnumber other leaders, only four of the 11 LC5 chairpersons attended. They were David Ziija (Mayuge), Shabiru Isabirye Kalulu (Iganga), Peter Kafuko Mulyandawo (Luuka) and Elijah Kagoda (Kaliro).
Lubaale called for unity among Basoga to promote the region's development.
Therefore, Lubaale said politicians were collectively key and relevant in Busoga’s agenda for development.
“We need action, unity and overcoming negative energies, and Kadaga being our top leader, we must rally our support as religious, cultural, political and the entire community to lobby for the region with all our backing,” he urged.
Meanwhile, Nakadama said some officials were away but had sent apologies, citing ICT minister Justine Lumumba and lands state minister Persis Namuganza, who were attending National Tourism Day in Mbale, while presidency minister Milly Babalanda and chairperson of the Busoga Parliamentary Caucus Steven Kisa had accompanied the Kyabazinga to Dubai, along with Busoga Katukiro Dr Joseph Muvawala.
Nakadama also said that, unlike the previous term when MPs were divided into two caucuses, Busoga MPs were now united under one caucus.
“I want to assure the Basoga that as your MPs, we are united because we named the caucus, including the opposition on board as one people,” she said, drawing ululation from the congregation.
Kadaga, who is the patron of the BCD, said there was a need to push for Government funding for the consortium through the Ministry of Local Government, since its operations were carried out through local governments to improve household incomes.
According to Kadaga, during the just-concluded term of office, they invited then local government minister Raphael Magyezi, who was expected to present the issue to Cabinet but did not.
She, however, promised to work closely with his successor, Balaam Barugahara, by reminding him to push the file and ensure that the BCD operates within the law.