By Our Reporter
The controversially appointed Parish Priest at St James Gulama Church of Uganda – Reverend Gerald Kwegobola has stirred the minds of the Christians by appointing the head of laity who are not legally married in church.
This is not only sacrilegious but it displays much disrespect to the churchgoers.
St James Gulama Parish is located in Kilowooza about two kilometres from Mukono Diocese. Although the furious Christians within the church questioned the untimely replacement of (the former heads of laity) Elias Mugambagye and Joakim Serugoba whose leadership and developmental skills were incomparable, the Man of God has since kept a deaf ear.
By appointing Richard Kasozi, a former treasurer as the head of laity, insiders believe that Rev. Kwegobola is trying to avoid accountability and they find this as an exhibition of conflict of interest, something that may further derail the plans of the church.
The newly appointed head of Laity is not officially married in church though sources say he is seeing some women.
Sylvia Nanyondo Kaweesi, the current treasurer is also not officially married since she is a second wife to one Sewanyana. They so far have three children (two boys and one girl). Despite Sewanyana being wedded in church to his old wife some years back, they seem to have separated due to irreconcilable differences and this gave him a leeway to sire children with Nanyondo.
Kasozi works as a Councillor at Mukono District and Nanyondo, a certified accountant works at Goma Division – Mukono District in the finance department.
Kasozi was formerly working as a treasurer in the same church. He was controversially appointed in that position by Rev Ivan Kiberu who was recently transferred to Namuyenje COU. Kiberu who was also worryingly close to Nanyondo fired the then reigning Treasurer Jackie Cheptoke and replaced her with Kasozi.
These changes have disorganized the entire church administration. When Rev. Kwegobola arrived he disagreed with Mugambagye and his assistant Serugoba who were very developmental. And since January last year works on the Vicarage house stalled yet the contributions continue flowing in. Despite Rev. Kwegobola and the finance people holding late night meetings, there are not many visible works at the entire church premises. The man of God has since entered an incomplete house after tiling some rooms but not even the toilets have been fixed.
Rev. Kwegobola is also faulted for appointing two lay leaders Ronald Nsubuga and Doreen Namigadde yet the Church is still in its infancy stage with about 100 followers.
Rev. Kwegobola attempted to post Namigadde to Nabuta Chapel which seceded from St James Gulama Church to replace Esther Kirya but the Christians there protested and the transfer collapsed. They were very comfortable with Kirya who has labored much to develop the church despite the fact that she is not very well trained to preach.
The Christians at Nabuta Chapel rejected Rev Kwegobola’s move to appoint his own so as to serve his interests. Having envisaged his hidden motives, they protested saying the one who was in charge is developmental. She has since bought land with plans to start works on the construction of the church. Kirya was a zonal leader but took the courage of preachPriest In Trouble For Appointing Unmarried Leaders, Tearing Church Aparting and is much loved by the Christians. Since the said parishes are few kilometers from Mukono Diocese, the disgruntled Christians are calling upon Bishop Kitto Kagodo to come to their rescue and protect the interests of the Churches.
