Early this year, President Museveni came out to distance himself from the ‘defiant’ and expelled catholic priest Fr.Jacinto Kibuuka, the new Bishop of the Mamre International Prayer Centre, Fr. Kibuuka was last year suspended from the Catholic Church by Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, Archbishop of Kampala over what he called disobedience.
‘‘I have received information that former Catholic priest Jacinto Kibuuka claims that I support his activities. This is not true. We never involve ourselves in church matters. Nobody should believe such a claim.’’ The president tweeted on 17th February 2017.
However leaked letter reveals that in August this year, Fr. Jacinto Kibuuka, wrote to President Museveni asking him to meet the legal costs of a court case in which he was sued. The man of God had requested for 300 million, anticipating that the figure would be high.
Fr. Kibuuka was sued for abusing Catholic Church leaders. The lawyers claim that while on local radio, Fr.Kibuuka uttered words and engaged in act that ‘injured feelings’ of the Roman Catholic Church leaders and followers when he referred – Bishop John Baptist Ondama and Archbishop Kizito Lwanga as ‘abayaaye’ (crooks) , However last week the Directorate of Public Prosecution, informied court that they were formally withdrawing the charges which were instituted against Fr, Kibuuka.
In letter dated August 9th, signed by Fr.Kibuuka as the Bishop of the Evangelical Orthodox Church (EOC) in Uganda and Fr. Vincent Kisenyi Byansi, the director in charge of development at EOC wrote to Museveni reminding him about his pledge to meet the legal costs.
“Communication was made to His Excellency president Museveni appreciating him for the warm welcome during our visit to his home in Rwakitura that we had on 13th July 2017 which was very fruitful,” reads the letter in part.
“The purpose of this communication is to remind and kindly request that you consider to and fulfil the president’s pledge to EOC church to clear off the pending legal costs of Fr.Kibuuka which reduced to shs343 million.”
Fr.Kibuuka also wanted President Museveni to fulfill his pledge of Shs 195 million meant for a brick laying machine for Fr.Vincent Kisenyi Byansi.
“All these pledges were made on 13th July 2017 at his home in Rwakitura in the presence of Hon.Al Haji Abdul Nadduli, the minister Without Portfolio and they total to Shs 1.2 billion,” adds the letter.
Fr.Kibuuka told online publication that the act of the president and government funding projects is not new citing boda boda cyclists and many others that have received similar assistance. He however condemned the leaking of what he termed as a private letter
read: Govt is behind Fr.Kibuuka, wants divide, fail Catholic Church-Lawyers
