Bishop Shalita Abandons Throne

THE Bishop of Muhabura Diocese in Kisoro, Ernest Shalita, has abandoned his throne and declared it unholy, reports Hamis Kaheru.“I don’t think I will sit on it again before it is cleaned,” he told The New Vision yesterday after the church service. “This is the first time I attend service and I don’t sit on that chair.During yesterday’s service, the Bishop sat near the throne.“The chair was defiled (made unholy). We have to conduct special prayers for it and present it to the Christians again as the official seat of the Bishop,” he said.Also declared unholy are the baskets originally used by church wardens to collect offertory.Shalita said some people one time collected the baskets and sat on them so that Christians do not give offertory.He said since then, worshippers walk up to the altar to give their offertory.Last Sunday, Bishop Shalita was hurt by needles planted in his throne.In December he was locked in the church vestry together with a group of Canons he was about to ordain. The vestry door was broken by the Rev. Jenny Green.“They shouldn’t have done this to me after serving this church for 12 years,” Shalita said.The needles were allegedly planted by Christians opposed to Bishop-elect the Rev. Can. David Sebuhinja who replaces Shalita in April. “The seat has to be re-examined. There may be more needles you never know,” Shalita said as he pointed at two big holes in the seat. He also said he will have to sit in that chair before he hands over the Diocese to a new Bishop.The Christians opposed to Sebuhinja accuse Shalita of influencing the House of Bishops against their favourite Canon Wilson Baganizi. Shalita, however, denies the charge.“I have nothing against Canon Baganizi. I went to the same schools with him from primary and I worked with him well when he was my Diocesan Secretary. Even when he was elevated to go to the province at Namirembe I endorsed his papers,” Shalita said.He said members of the choir who had refused to sit in their seats would not affect the church service.“People sing to God not to the Bishop,” Shalita said.Yesterday’s service was led by the Rev. Green who in his remarks attacked the person who made an offering of a counterfeit sh1,000 note. The note was displayed in church.Ends