The likely reason behind Kabuleta arrest, Bujingo attack

By Reagan Van Keagan

Recent weeks have been very interesting in a strange way. Two Pentecostal church leaders at the forefront of the fight against the contentious religious and faith-based organisations Bill found themselves in strange territory.

Pastor Joseph Kabuleta of the Watchman Ministries was arrested and detained at the Special Investigations Unit offices in Kireka for more than 96 hours without appearing before the courts of law contrary to the 48hrs demanded by the constitution.

Then Pastor Aloysius Bujjingo of the House of Prayer Ministries was also cast in bad light as fellow servants of God under their umbrella association The National Fellowship of Born-Again Pentecostal Churches (NFBPC) summarily excommunicated him and denounced him as a bad apple in the Pentecostal church in Uganda.

Interestingly we all know that Pastor Bujjingo is accountable to God and only his flock in his marital affairs.  So the actions of the leaders of the umbrella association only serve to amplify their irrelevance in the first place. It is very clear that over time these organizations have mutated to become pawns of an intricate power control system meant to enforce the interests of a few individuals or even one individual.

What is more intriguing is that in the same period Rev Father Simon Peter Lokodo resurrected the Religious organizations Bill. To the common churchgoer, this is not shocking. Arrests are very common, especially when you attack the peace of the president or if you have serious presidential ambitions like Joseph Kabuleta. But the attack on Pastor Bujingo and his excommunication by fellow men of God was a poorly timed move that has exposed weak schemes employed by the promoters of this bill. It clearly shows that there is a calculated plan to divert public attention and bring back the Bill in a subtle manner.

The timing of these clandestine attacks is what a normal observer may miss, but not a person who knows what goes on behind the curtains in this country. This is a well-oiled system to eliminate and slander those who stand for the truth. Over and over again the fallen church has worked with some rogue elements in the state structure to distract the move of God.

For the last three years, Kabuleta has stood against the proposed policy. So the announcement on Wednesday that the Bill will be revived as Kabuleta was planning to appear before SIU offices in Kireka shows that something was being cooked secretly the stench of which is spread quickly.

They can no longer contain it. The Bill must pass under all circumstances even if it takes duress and intimidation. This scheme is meant to eradicate radical spirituality. Some people want to control the church the same way they control other groups and this is impossible because the church belongs to Christ. Christ I would like to tell Father Lokodo that this will not stop the move of God, but will further embolden the awakened church to fight this law.

What is very surprising is that the same men of God who worked with Kabuleta and Bugingo in the efforts to fight this Bill later agreed to meet the President and if you are not a stranger in this land you know what it means when they promise you a presidential meet and greet opportunity. It is not just a moment to take pictures with the President but also a once in a occasion to present all the needs of your family, clan and even tribe. It is sad that Men of God have also fallen for such fretting allures.

That none of the men of God that were quick to castigate Bujjingo, stood with Kabuleta except activists and politicians like Kizza Besigye, Erias Lukwago, was also telling. Men who have never heard Kabuleta preach were with him, but these brothers in Christ shied away from their own in a time of need.

Just like the Pharisees they are now reporting to the state to help them. Nothing is new under the sun, as it was in the scriptures it is happening now. The whole nation is watching, there is nothing that is hidden from God. Whatever scheme that is being planned will not suceed. What is being done in the dark will be exposed in broad daylight.

The writer is a Gospel minister

reaganv66@gmail.com