It was wrong to take Nsibambi heiress to the press, says Bishop Ssebaggala

Jun 16, 2019

Bishop Ssebaggala, who presided over the funeral mass of Prof. Apollo Nsibambi at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe and prayed for the deceased’s daughter, said the clan head should have sweet-talked the Nsibambi family to strike a compromise.

By John Semakula

KAMPALA - Mukono Diocesan Bishop, James William Ssebaggala has blamed Ffumbe Clan leaders for taking the issue of Prof. Nsibambi's heiress to the media instead of using diplomacy.

Bishop Ssebaggala, who presided over the funeral mass of Prof. Apollo Nsibambi at St. Paul's Cathedral, Namirembe and prayed for the deceased's daughter, said the clan head should have sweet-talked the Nsibambi family to strike a compromise.

"But the matter is in the press and there is not much to do," Bishop Ssebaggala said.

The bishop told the New Vision that he still believes that if the Ffumbe clan leaders had taken a soft stance on the Nsibambi family, they would have selected a male to perform certain roles required of a man in the clan.

Following Prof. Nsibambi's burial on June 4, a row erupted between the Ffumbe Clan leaders in Buganda, the deceased's family and the Church over the choice of his heir.

Prof. Nsibambi chose Rhoda Nakimuli Kasujja his elder daughter as his heir, a decision which the clan leadership has protested, arguing that a woman cannot be heir of a man.  

Prof. Nsibambi's choice of heir has become a topic of discussion in the public with women activists seeing no reason why a woman cannot become an heir for a man.

The debate has even drawn in President Yoweri Museveni who on Thursday supported Nsibambi's heir, arguing that it would not be wise to import a nephew to work as the heir if he is not of good character just because culture demands.

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