Trouble is brewing among Catholic faith in Nyarushanje Parish Rukungiri district after the area Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Elias Kasigeire makes it mandatory for candidates running in the upcoming general elections to speak about Hon. Mary Paula Turyahikayo before promoting themselves.
Mary Paula Turyahikayo recently announced her intention to run for the position of Woman Member of Parliament for Rukungiri district in the general elections scheduled for 2026.
Following her humiliating defeat in the 2021–2026 general elections to Hon. Naboth Namanya of FDC, has subsequently gone back and updated the sectarian leaders’ notes and is making an effort to put them into effect one by one, this time with the help of the Catholic Church in Rukungiri district.
Recently, on Friday last week, a dispute emerged at Nyarushanje Catholic Parish which is under the Diocese of Kabale between Angello Bagorogoza Twinomuhangi who eyes for Rukungiri district chairperson LC5 and Rev. Fr. Kasigeire Elias during the three day youth conference started on Thursday which was attended by over 1,000 youths from the parish.
There were misconceptions when Twinomuhangi came to speak to the youths and was instructed by Fr. Kasigeire asked the audience for support for Hon. Paula Turyahikayo before delivering any remarks.
Twinomuhangi declined, claiming that he is not a supporter of Mary Paula and Fr. Kasigeire grabbed a microphone from him and was stopped from addressing the youths.
Twinomuhangi informed our reporter that he had brought fifty cartons of soda to give to the youths, but Fr. Kasigeire turned them away, accusing him of being an enemy of Hon. Mary Paula, a fellow Catholic.
Twinomuhangi Angello accuses the priest of creating divisions among the catholic community of Nyarushanje Parish in Rukungiri district.
“Rev. Fr. Elias Kasigeire, the Parish priest for Nyarushanje Parish under Kabale diocese has fueled hatred and divisionism in Rukungiri district,” He said.
He went on to condemn divisive forces that threaten the unity of society, emphasizing that such divisions orchestrated by selfish individuals are coming at a high cost to the people.
Furthermore, Twinomuhangi encouraged the religious leaders to play a proactive role in shaping the nation’s future through advocacy work.
He also warned religious leaders against mixing politics with religion and tribes, saying it creates a divided nation.
Twinomuhangi cited the example of Catholics in Nyarushanje Parish who are being compelled to vote for Mary Paula as if they are voting for Pope, which he says is wrong.
Cue in…….ANGELLO………..
Hon. Mary Paula Turyahikayo, the Chairperson of Peace and Justice in Rukungiri, bemoaned the lack of a Catholic Member of Parliament in the entire Rukungiri District in her opening remarks at a meeting she called on November 11, 2024, as you can see from the attached copy of the minutes.
The majority of Catholics should be made aware of their political stance through mass sermons in their separate parishes, she said, adding that the Catholic Church in the district is frantically looking up to her as its only hope for survival and continuation.
Our repeated attempts to reach Rev. Fr. Elias Kasigeire for a remark were unsuccessful since he did not answer the phone.
