Suspended priest skips pre-marital counselling

RELATIONSHIPS    RELIGION

KAMPALA - The Namirembe Diocese priest suspended over a sex scandal, the Rev. Ronald Kalende, and his fianceé  Thursday did not attend the weekly marriage and counselling lessons at the St Paul's Cathedral, Namirembe.

Namirembe Diocesan Mission and Evangelism secretary, the Rev. Samuel Muwonge, who was assigned to conduct the counselling lessons, said he had no idea why Kalende skipped this week's session.

"Kalende and his fianceé were not among those that attended, even if you check the attendance list of my class. I do not know why they have not attended," Muwonge said while speaking to New Vision at the cathedral.

Muwonge also refuted media reports that he will be the best man at Kalende's wedding scheduled for January 17, 2020.

He said he had no clue who Kalende's best man is. He said his only role was to carry out marriage and counselling sessions with Kalende and his fianceé.

"Many people have called me asking if I am the best man," Muwonge said.

Kalende, this week, admitted that he had fathered a child with a church choir pianist, 23-year-old Perusi Serena Nabirye.

The admission came when preparations were at advanced stage for Kalende to wed another woman, Elusah Ssanyu Namuyige, the daughter of the Rev. Daniel Sserumbaawo.

The wedding is supposed to take place at St Paul's Cathedral, Namirembe, with Bishop Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira as the main celebrant.

Kalende's introduction ceremony is set for this Saturday.

However, the cathedral authorities could not conclusively say whether the wedding preparations would go ahead as planned.

The Namirembe diocesan vicar, George William Kyeyune, said they haven't received any communication relating to the wedding.

He said the suspension of Kalende does not automatically affect his wedding.

On his part, the Namirembe Cathedral dean, Rev. Can. Benon Kityo, declined to talk about the matter.

"Ask Rev. Kalende himself, not me," he replied when asked whether the wedding will go ahead. Kalende of St Stephen Kazo Parish, Mwererwe initially had vehemently denied being the father of Nabirye's baby.

He instead had falsely accused his colleague, Rev. Julius Matovu of Jjungo Parish, of being the father of the baby.

After the state minister of children and youth, Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, summoned the duo on Tuesday, Kalende admitted to siring the child with Nabirye.

In response, Bishop Luwalira ordered the immediate suspension of both Kalende and Matovu.

However, Francis Nalukoola, one of the wedding's organisers, insisted on Wednesday that the wedding will go ahead.

The two priests have in meantime been banned from preaching in any church in the country, according to Namirembe diocesan secretary, Rev. Can. Nelson Kaweesa, who signed on the letters of suspension.

"The suspension means the duo are not supposed to carry out any pastoral work including preaching the word of God, joining people into matrimony and baptising people under the jurisdiction of Church of Uganda," the Rev. Can. Nelson Kaweesa, told New Vision on Wednesday.