Winnie Byanyima has accused President Museveni of ordering Lubaga Cathedral not to hold a special Mass that had been organised to pray for her detained husband, Dr. Kizza Besigye, and other political prisoners.
The mass, which had been organised by Dr. Besigye’s family, was scheduled to take place at Lubaga Cathedral today (Monday, February 23) starting at 1.00 PM. It was supposed to be presided over by Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere of Kampala Archdiocese.
However, by 2.00 PM, Ssemogerere and other religious leaders had not shown up, and there was a heavy security presence.
Addressing supporters who had gathered for the service, Byanyima said the Archbishop Ssemogerere informed her that he had been pressured not to preside over the mass.
“The Archbishop called me yesterday and told me that President Museveni had put him under pressure not to hold this Mass,” Byanyima claimed.
She added that Ssemogerere told her the President had claimed the service was being used as a pretext for a political gathering.
“She said the president told him that we were using the mass to organise a political meeting. The Archbishop told him that it was not true, but Museveni insisted that it be postponed until further notice,” Byanyima said.
Byanyima described the development as worrying.
“It is very troubling that Museveni can stop a church like Rubaga from holding mass. This was simply a prayer service requested by Dr. Besigye,” she said.
According to Byanyima, Besigye had specifically asked for a mass to be organised to pray for political prisoners and others facing political persecution in Uganda.
Dr. Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate and long-time critic of President Museveni, has been in detention for more than a year.
Byanyima urged Ugandans of goodwill to continue praying for Besigye and others in detention.
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