By Mulengera Reporters A large group of Christians from the Church of Uganda’s Busoga Diocese have written a petition to the Archbishop, Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, asking him to step in and solve a growing crisis in their church leadership.
The petition, signed by over 200 concerned Christians, points to several serious issues including tribalism, poor management, and lack of transparency in the running of the diocese.
It is addressed directly to the Archbishop and the House of Bishops, and it explains how the leadership of the diocese, under Bishop Paul Moses Samson Naimanhye, is causing divisions and dissatisfaction among Christians across Busoga region.
According to the petitioners, the Bishop is accused of favouring people from his own area, Bukono, when giving church positions. They say that many priests, deacons, and other church workers have been appointed simply because they come from Bukono, while other regions like Bugabula, Kigulu, and Bunha and Buzaaya have been left out.
The Christians who wrote the petition say this favouritism is creating divisions among church members, believing that the Church should treat all people equally, regardless of where they come from. Instead, they feel the leadership is using tribal connections to make decisions, which is weakening the unity of the diocese.
The petitioners also say that the Bishop is not following the proper rules and procedures when making decisions. For example, they claim that some priests have been allowed to work past the normal retirement age, while younger priests are being unfairly removed or transferred without explanation.
They also say that the people who are supposed to represent the lay Christians in Church meetings (the House of Laity and the Diocesan Council) are being ignored. These meetings either do not take place, or when they do, decisions are already made in advance by a small group close to the Bishop.
The petitioners believe that church leadership should involve all Christians, including ordinary members, but this is not happening.
The Christians who wrote the petition also say that there is no clear accounting for the money collected by the Church, adding that funds meant for development, youth activities, and clergy support are not being used properly, and there are no official financial reports shared with church members.
They are concerned that this lack of transparency is leading to mistrust, and that many Christians are becoming discouraged from giving offertories or supporting church programmes.
Another issue raised is how people are being ordained. The petitioners say that some people have been made priests or deacons even when they do not have the right training or qualifications. They believe these decisions are also based on tribal connections or personal relationships, not merit.
At the same time, many of the clergy are struggling. Some have not received their official letters of appointment, while others go without salaries for months. In many parishes, clergy are surviving only through small donations from church members.
There are also cases where newly ordained priests have not been given parishes to serve in, even after waiting for several years. The petitioners say this situation is causing frustration among church workers and weakening the spiritual work of the diocese.
The Christians are now asking the Archbishop and the House of Bishops to act quickly. They want an independent team to go to Busoga and investigate all the complaints, since they believe that only a thorough investigation can help bring back unity and restore the reputation of the Church in the region.
They also warn that if nothing is done, more Christians will lose faith in the leadership, and the Church could suffer serious long-term damage.
This is not the first time Busoga Diocese has faced such concerns. In 2023, a smaller group of Christians raised similar issues, but those concerns were reportedly ignored. This time, the petitioners include more church leaders and lay members from different areas, which shows how widespread the dissatisfaction has become.
For now, many Christians in Busoga are waiting to see what the Archbishop will do, and they hope for a peaceful solution that will bring fairness, spiritual renewal, and unity back to their Church. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
