We Can’t Pray For Someone Who Worshiped ‘Bajajja’: Inside Negotiations Between Catholic Church And Kato Lubwama’s Family To Pray For his Body…
June 9, 2023
Before Fr. Herbert Galiwango, the priest from Kawanda led prayers at former Lubaga South legislator Paul Kato Lubwama’s home in Mutundwe, there were a lot of negotiations and compromises agreed upon between the appointed Liturgical committee and the leadership of Kampala Catholic Archdiocese to give the last blessing and pray for the deceased.
Kampala Central Member of Parliament Muhammad Nsereko, the chairperson of Lubwama’s burial committee appointed a select committee for liturgy and Julius Katongole, a member on the committee exclusively revealed to theGrapevine that they are very sure that today, the catholic church will allow Lubwama to be taken to church for prayers.
“The body will be taken to Matia Mulumba church. That’s what I can tell you for now,” Katongole said.
On Friday evening, Fr. Galiwango told mourners that he feared to lead prayers at Lubwama’s home after being told that he has shrines at his home.
On Wednesday, mourners at Lubwama’s Mutundwe home were shocked to learn that the catholic priests who were invited from Mutundwe Catholic church didn’t show up even though the place was organised for prayers.
Katongole said that the prayers were expected to start at 5pm but the priest didn’t show up that is why they decided to change the programme and gave an opportunity to Lubwama’s friends and relatives to give speeches and also allow musicians and comedians to entertain mourners.
Highly placed sources within the committee told theGrapevine that the reason why the priests didn’t show up was because of the two shrines which the late built behind his big houses.
Lubwama’s shrines are roofed with clay tiles and nor grass thatched like the usual shrines.
Lubwama’s actions were supported by senior presidential advisor on media Joseph Tamale Mirundi who also said that grass shrines are outdated.
Mirundi added that traditional gods now also believe in modernity and are comfortable staying in modern houses like their counterparts in mosques and churches.
Sources said that Kampala Archdiocese chief Bishop Dr. Paul Ssemogerere made call to a number of catholic leaders in the Archdioceses to ascertain whether Lubwama was a catholic.
“Dr. Ssemogerere made a phone call to Fr. Remigious Ssemujju who was supposed to lead prayers on Wednesday at Lubwama’s home to consult on Lubwama’s faith and also guide him. He openly told him that Lubwama severally declared that he was a traditionalist and believed in small gods ‘Bajajja’ while still alive,” an insider said.
The insider added that Ssemujju further explained to Dr. Ssemogerere that even Lubwama’s wife Ann Lubwama and his children are traditionalists and have never been seen in any of the catholic churches in Kampala.
However, Katongole told theGrapevine that they have followed all the necessary procedures needed so that Lubwama’s body can be prayed for.
He added that one of the priests quietly told them that they cannot come to Lubwama’s home when there is a shrine.
This priest advised them to make arrangements and have his body taken to church.
Sources said that they first wanted to take Lubwama’s body to Lubaga Cathedral but they were told that his body cannot be accepted because in all his lifetime, he never attended any prayers apart from when he was campaigning in the 2016 and 2021 general elections.
Lubwama, being a twin, was a believer in the traditional faith.
When he was still alive, Lubwama one time told the media that if all the people who confess Christianity and Islam are to be punished in the heaven, then all believers in these religions from Buganda will be punished because they inherited sins from their great great grand fathers and mothers who sinned by believing in traditional gods before the coming of the said beliefs .
According to the burial programme, Lubwama will be buried on Wednesday next week.
Pr. Bugingo vows to pray for Kato Lubwama after Catholic church’s refusal
https://newsday.co.ug/2023/06/11/pr-bugingo-vows-to-pray-for-kato-lubwama-after-catholic-churchs-refusal/
On Saturday Bugingo prayed for Kato Lubwama's body when the body had just arrived. Kato died of heart failure on Wednesday.
