Church condemns Police over Mbogo clan fracas

RELIGION

The Catholic Church has condemned the  Police for  disruptung  and stopping mass by firing tear gas to block people from the venue. The Church  said this was wrong and should never happen again.

This was during an event where  the Mbogo clan had gathered at their ancestral site at Mugulu, Ziggoti town council to attend thanksgiving prayers for their elder leader, Gajuule Kayiira Kasibante.        

"Our Church, prayers and church ministers must be respected," Rt Rev Dr Joseph Antony Zziwa, the chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference said.

Dr Zziwa who is also the Ordinary of Kiyinda Mityana diocese was on Wednesday speaking after leading mass for blessing of the holy oil at the diocesan cathedral in Kiyinda.
 
He expressed worry over the attack and said the Church must be respected like it respects other institutions.

He faulted the police officer who commanded the operation, ordering Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa to stop mass and said he never had any powers or rights to stop mass.

He explained that once mass is started, it is only the main celebrant who can stop it by blessing the congregation and dispersing it.

 He wondered why a layperson would order a bishop to stop and disperse the congregation.

Bishop Zziwa denied allegations that the gathering was political and said it was only thanksgiving for the head of the Mbogo Clan.
Bishop Kaggwa is also from the Mbogo clan and every year he attends the cultural gatherings there, although this time it was not a general gathering for clan members.

Kaggwa said he was invited to lead the thanksgiving mass and led it following all the necessary procedures. However, they were shocked to hear Police saying that the gathering had some political motives.

He asked police to handle Ugandans with respect and avoid using excessive force.

"It is not good to use teargas and excess force all the time. The way some people are held while being arrested is also brutal and all these must change," he said.

The Blessing of the oil is always done on Holy Thursday but this year it was not possible because of the lockdown.

During this mass, all the priests in the dioceses attend but this time, only a few represented the others.