The House of Bishops, convening at Namirembe, has put forth recommendations for immediate changes within the Namirembe Diocese Chancellery in the wake of reports alleging irregularities in the nomination process for new bishops. This development comes as the Election of the next Bishop of Namirembe Diocese faces postponement, with ongoing concerns regarding corruption, conflicts of interest, and fairness in the selection process.

On Wednesday,  the House of Bishops for the Church of Uganda deferred the crucial election, citing the ongoing nomination process as a reason for the delay. The nomination process is yet to reach a conclusive decision.

The decision to postpone the election was prompted by complaints raised by church elders, who petitioned Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu of the Church of Uganda. Their grievances primarily centered around allegations of corruption, conflicts of interest, and perceived biases in the selection process, which led to the nomination of two candidates.

While Adams Sadik, the provincial spokesperson for the Church of Uganda, did not specify the exact reasons behind the House of Bishops’ decision, he clarified that there were compelling factors that led to this course of action. Detailed communication regarding these reasons will be conveyed to the nominating committee at a later time.

The election of the new Bishop of Namirembe Diocese holds immense significance, as it marks the retirement of Bishop Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira, who has led the diocese for the past 13 years. To facilitate a seamless transition, the process of selecting a successor commenced on May 13th when the Namirembe Diocesan Synod convened to elect the Bishop’s nomination team.

This committee, chaired by Fred Mpanga, the chancellor of Namirembe Diocese, was tasked with identifying two eligible priests, from whom the House of Bishops would ultimately select the sixth Bishop of Uganda’s oldest diocese. The committee reportedly evaluated 13 candidates, including individuals such as Rev. Canon Moses Kayimba, Ven. Rev. Canon Moses Banja, Rev. Edward Stephen Kabanda, Ven. Canon John Gitta Kavuma, Ven. BK Buwembo, Rev. Semei Ssebina Sekiziyivu, Rev. Emmanuel Lutaaya, Rev. Dr. Thomas Timothy Nsubuga, Rev. Esau Bbosa Kimanje, and Rev. Dr. Enock Kimanje.

Tensions within the Synod reached a critical point during the final decision-making meeting at King’s College Budo, where disagreements among the 13 out of 15 members led to objections about certain candidates’ lack of proper vetting and adherence to the requisite election procedures. The meeting ended amid heated debates, and a scheduled follow-up session did not take place. Nevertheless, two names were eventually submitted to the House of Bishops.

In accordance with the Provincial Canons of the Church of Uganda, eligible candidates for the bishop’s position must be ordained priests with a minimum of ten years of pastoral ministry experience, at least 45 years old, hold a bachelor’s degree in Theology or Divinity, or possess a first degree in another field supplemented by a postgraduate diploma in Theology or Divinity.

These canons further dictate that the nomination committee assesses candidates based on various factors, including their age, academic qualifications, pastoral experience, spiritual dedication, family life, personal integrity, and societal standing.

The recent controversies surrounding bishop elections in the Church of Uganda have given rise to significant divisions within the church across various dioceses. Discontented factions have rejected both nominated candidates and elected bishops, with some resorting to legal action in civil courts, a move criticized by church authorities.

In the case of Kumi Diocese, Bishop Charles Okunya’s election was revoked by Archbishop Stanley Ntagali in February 2020 due to alleged age falsification. Similarly, earlier this year, the House of Bishops elected Godfrey Kasana Ssemakula as the Bishop of Luweero Diocese, only to disqualify him later due to maintaining relationships with two mistresses and having children with them.

The ongoing challenges and controversies surrounding bishop elections within the Church of Uganda have deep historical roots, dating back to the 1965 election of Archbishop Erica Sabiti. Dr. David Zac Niringiye, retired assistant bishop of the Diocese of Kampala, has highlighted the existence of the Namirembe Christian Organization, a laymen’s advocacy group within the church that advocated for an archbishop with Muganda heritage during that election.