Nkoyooyo Urges Baganda To Groom President

By G. Kamali THE Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyooyo, has called on the Baganda to come out and field their own candidate for the country's next President. Nkoyooyo said the prevailing circumstances in the country now favour political competition yet nobody from Buganda had shown interest in the top job. He was speaking yesterday at the consecration of the Rev. Canon Jackson Matovu, the new Bishop of Central Buganda Diocese. "I am sorry I have to say this now. People from other regions have presented themselves but those in Buganda are simply looking at each other," he said. The colourful function at St. John's Cathedral, Kasaka in Gomba, Mpigi district, was witnessed by bishops and politicians. Matovu, 49, has been Provost of the St. Andrew's Cathedral, Mukono. He succeeds Bishop George Senabulya, who retired last month. Nkoyooyo said, "There are good opportunities now, there is good-will but we have failed to lead. If there are no new people, there are those who have served before." Justice and constitutional affairs minister Jehoash Mayanja Nkangi, represented President Yoweri Museveni at the function. He asked the Church to support government policies, saying the church and the State have a grand partnership in developing society. Said Nkoyooyo, "I thank Kibirige (Mayanja) for his attempt (at the presidency) but I call on others to come up and join him." The guest preacher, Bishop Elisha Kyamugambi of Ankole Diocese, called on Matovu to continue preaching as his predecessor did. "Evil is on the resurgence. We need to take the message of salvation to all men through prayer," he said. Matovu, in his acceptance speech, said he would help to mobilise the masses in support of government programmes to fight poverty. He said the diocese had developed a five-year development plan which he pledged to enhance further. Ends