Needles Planted In Kisoro Bishop’s Throne

By Allan TuryagumaBISHOP Ernest Shalita of Muhabura Diocese was hurt on Sunday by needles believed to have been planted in his throne by unscrupulous people.The congregation at St. Andrews Cathedral, Sesame in Kisoro were thrown into a panic when the Bishop who was in the process of sitting down, suddenly cried out in pain, clutching the seat of his cassock.Shalita told The New Vision yesterday that the incident occurred at about 10:00am just as the church service was beginning.“A policeman happened to be in the church at the time and together we examined my seat and removed two long needles,” he said.He added, “I experienced some pain but luckily enough there was not much bleeding and now I am fine.”Shalita said after the service, he reported the matter to Kisoro Police station and to the Resident District Commissioner’s office.The deputy regional Police commander, Mr. Stephen Musoke, confirmed that the Bishop had recorded a statement and said investigations into the matter were going on.“We are doing our best to see that the perpetrators of that crime are brought to book before they can commit further atrocities,” Musoke said.Shalita said this was not the first time he was suffering at the hands of some uncompromising members of his church.He said in December last year, he was locked in the vestry where he had gone to change after delivering the sermon and was only let out by the Police.Shalita said he was worried for his life and that if the Government does not intervene, there could be bloodshed.Shalita accused some local politicians of being behind the confusion but gave no details.A clergyman at the diocese said on condition of anonymity that the confusion in the church started when Shalita, who is retiring soon decided to back Can. David Sebuhinja as his successor.“Some members of the church, including some politicians, wanted Can. John Baganizi to be the new bishop and when the House of Bishops chose Sebuhinja, they blamed Shalita,” the source said.A source at the Church of Uganda Provincial Secretariat in Namirembe said despite the controversy regarding Can. Sebuhinja’s candidature, the bishops during their retreat in Lweza last month went ahead and endorsed him as the new bishop.“The probe committee established to look into the controversy found out that the intended rejection of Can. Sebuhinja was on personal grounds and would not affect the flow of operations in the diocese,” the source at Namirembe said.Ends