Bishop orders press out of Rwakasisi prayer service
Jan 21, 2009
DRAMA ensued at All Saints Church in Nakasero yesterday when Kampala diocese assistant bishop Dr. Zac Niringiye ordered journalists out of a thanksgiving service organised for Chris Rwakasisi.
By Chris Kiwawulo
DRAMA ensued at All Saints Church in Nakasero yesterday when Kampala diocese assistant bishop Dr. Zac Niringiye ordered journalists out of a thanksgiving service organised for Chris Rwakasisi.
Just before the service had started, photo journalists took Niringiye’s picture as he hugged Rwakasisi and his wife. It was at this moment that the bishop, who looked incensed by the continuous flicking of the cameras asked: “Who are these people?â€
And when they introduced themselves as journalists, Niringiye told them: “This is a private function. Who invited you? By the way, I am serious. You should stay outside.â€
The drama caused anxiety among the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) members since it was their party that had invited the scribes. This forced them to intervene.
The bishop later apologised but still insisted that although they were free to stay, they should not take any more pictures during the service.
Before he prayed for Rwakasisi and his family to enjoy a new peaceful life, Nirirngiye also asked the journalists not to publish any of the pictures they had already taken.
President Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday pardoned Rwakasisi, a former security minister in the Obote II regime and two others, who had been sentenced to death.
They include Ali Fadhul, the former minister for provincial administration in Idi Amin’s regime and Ezra Kusasirwa.
They have all been awaiting hanging at Luzira Maximum security prison.
Before the service, Rwakasisi told the congregation that he had become saved while in prison and would continue preaching to the prisoners and the public.
“I thank all the people who regularly visited me while in prison. At last I have seen freedom after 24 years,†he said to a thunderous applause.
UPC president Miria Kalule Obote, who attended the service, later told the press at the party headquarters in Kampala that they were grateful to Museveni for releasing Rwakasisi and declining to sign the death warrant.
“We are overjoyed, overwhelmed and overexcited by the release of Rwakasisi after 24 years in prison. We are also grateful to the almighty God for this miracle, Chris looks very well,†she stated.
Flanked by the party secretary general, Peter Walubiri and treasurer, Patrick Mwondha, Obote said Rwakasisi would be useful in political mobilisation and reconstruction of the party.
She said Rwakasisi was unable to attend the press briefing because he wanted to go to his home in Bushenyi district and meet his family.
Walubiri said Rwakasisi was not only an asset to UPC, but the entire country owing to his political clout.
He noted that the party members had a nightmare when Hajji Ssebirumbi was executed in the late 1990s because this made them think that Rwakasisi was next.
DRAMA ensued at All Saints Church in Nakasero yesterday when Kampala diocese assistant bishop Dr. Zac Niringiye ordered journalists out of a thanksgiving service organised for Chris Rwakasisi.
Just before the service had started, photo journalists took Niringiye’s picture as he hugged Rwakasisi and his wife. It was at this moment that the bishop, who looked incensed by the continuous flicking of the cameras asked: “Who are these people?â€
And when they introduced themselves as journalists, Niringiye told them: “This is a private function. Who invited you? By the way, I am serious. You should stay outside.â€
The drama caused anxiety among the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) members since it was their party that had invited the scribes. This forced them to intervene.
The bishop later apologised but still insisted that although they were free to stay, they should not take any more pictures during the service.
Before he prayed for Rwakasisi and his family to enjoy a new peaceful life, Nirirngiye also asked the journalists not to publish any of the pictures they had already taken.
President Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday pardoned Rwakasisi, a former security minister in the Obote II regime and two others, who had been sentenced to death.
They include Ali Fadhul, the former minister for provincial administration in Idi Amin’s regime and Ezra Kusasirwa.
They have all been awaiting hanging at Luzira Maximum security prison.
Before the service, Rwakasisi told the congregation that he had become saved while in prison and would continue preaching to the prisoners and the public.
“I thank all the people who regularly visited me while in prison. At last I have seen freedom after 24 years,†he said to a thunderous applause.
UPC president Miria Kalule Obote, who attended the service, later told the press at the party headquarters in Kampala that they were grateful to Museveni for releasing Rwakasisi and declining to sign the death warrant.
“We are overjoyed, overwhelmed and overexcited by the release of Rwakasisi after 24 years in prison. We are also grateful to the almighty God for this miracle, Chris looks very well,†she stated.
Flanked by the party secretary general, Peter Walubiri and treasurer, Patrick Mwondha, Obote said Rwakasisi would be useful in political mobilisation and reconstruction of the party.
She said Rwakasisi was unable to attend the press briefing because he wanted to go to his home in Bushenyi district and meet his family.
Walubiri said Rwakasisi was not only an asset to UPC, but the entire country owing to his political clout.
He noted that the party members had a nightmare when Hajji Ssebirumbi was executed in the late 1990s because this made them think that Rwakasisi was next.