Muhabura crisis ends
Sep 12, 2006
MUHABURA Diocese Bishop Ernest Shalita has finally handed over his pastoral staff to Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, ending a crisis that has polarised Christians in southwestern Uganda for five years.
By Alfred Wasike
MUHABURA Diocese Bishop Ernest Shalita has finally handed over his pastoral staff to Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, ending a crisis that has polarised Christians in southwestern Uganda for five years.
Orombi recently led a special mission to Kisoro to resolve the row between the supporters of Bishop-elect, the Rev. Canon David Sebuhinja and the Rev. Canon Dr. Wilson Baganizi.
Christians rejected Sebuhinja who was chosen by the House of Bishops.
The Church of Uganda has decided that Sebuhinja is to be consecrated on December 10, in Mbale, during the consecration of the new Bishop, the Rev. Daniel Gimadu.
“Sebuhinja will be given another ministry in the Church outside Muhabura Diocese. He will not be the Bishop of Muhabura but he will be a bishop. Rev. Canon David Sebuhinja has accepted the compromise,†the Church said in a statement.
The House of Bishops reached the compromise on August 30 in a closed meeting at the recently-ended biennial 18th Provincial Assembly comprising the Houses of bishops, clergy, laity, women, youth and international representatives. It is the supreme body of the Church of Uganda.
In 2001, the House of Bishops elected Sebuhinja to head Muhabura Diocese but the head of the laity, Dr. Philemon Mateke and other leaders in the diocese rejected him.
This led to a five-year standoff between different groups in the diocese and the House of Bishops.
Orombi said, “We want to thank everyone who has prayed that a solution would be found for the impasse that has held muhabura Diocese captive for the past five years. A breakthrough has now come. The House of Bishops has always been confident of God’s call on Sebuhinja, and the Church of Uganda will be blessed to have him as a member of the House of Bishops. It was clear that he would not be accepted in Muhabura.â€
MUHABURA Diocese Bishop Ernest Shalita has finally handed over his pastoral staff to Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, ending a crisis that has polarised Christians in southwestern Uganda for five years.
Orombi recently led a special mission to Kisoro to resolve the row between the supporters of Bishop-elect, the Rev. Canon David Sebuhinja and the Rev. Canon Dr. Wilson Baganizi.
Christians rejected Sebuhinja who was chosen by the House of Bishops.
The Church of Uganda has decided that Sebuhinja is to be consecrated on December 10, in Mbale, during the consecration of the new Bishop, the Rev. Daniel Gimadu.
“Sebuhinja will be given another ministry in the Church outside Muhabura Diocese. He will not be the Bishop of Muhabura but he will be a bishop. Rev. Canon David Sebuhinja has accepted the compromise,†the Church said in a statement.
The House of Bishops reached the compromise on August 30 in a closed meeting at the recently-ended biennial 18th Provincial Assembly comprising the Houses of bishops, clergy, laity, women, youth and international representatives. It is the supreme body of the Church of Uganda.
In 2001, the House of Bishops elected Sebuhinja to head Muhabura Diocese but the head of the laity, Dr. Philemon Mateke and other leaders in the diocese rejected him.
This led to a five-year standoff between different groups in the diocese and the House of Bishops.
Orombi said, “We want to thank everyone who has prayed that a solution would be found for the impasse that has held muhabura Diocese captive for the past five years. A breakthrough has now come. The House of Bishops has always been confident of God’s call on Sebuhinja, and the Church of Uganda will be blessed to have him as a member of the House of Bishops. It was clear that he would not be accepted in Muhabura.â€