Four 'Hooligans' Arrested For Disrupting Bishop Ssebaggala's Service

Police in Wobulenzi town have apprehended four people believed to have been hired to disrupt a confirmation service led by the Caretaker Bishop of Luwero Diocese, Right Reverend James William Ssebaggala. The raid was allegedly in protest of the nullification of the election of Rev. Canon Godfrey Kasana Ssemakula. 

On Sunday, Bishop Ssebaggala visited Trinity Church of Uganda Katikamu in Wobulenzi town council to preside over a confirmation service. However, as he and other church leaders were preparing for the service, a group of ‘hooligans” arrived in a minibus, commonly known as a "drone," and attacked the church. The group demanded that Bishop Ssebaggala leave the Diocese so that Rev. Canon Godfrey Kasana Ssemakula could be installed as the fourth Bishop of Luwero Diocese. 

This led to a scuffle between the “hooligans” and ordinary Christians in the church. Christians condemned the attack, asserting that they were not part of the protests against Bishop Ssebaggala and that they wanted him to confirm their children. Police from Katikamu Police Post intervened and fired live bullets to restore order before they received backup from Wobulenzi Police Station. 

The Savannah Regional Police Spokesperson, Sam Twineamazima, reported the arrest of four out of six suspects involved in the attack. The suspects have been identified as Joel Droma, 29, a watchman from Kalerwe market zone; Ronnie Bakaki, a casual worker at Mambule zone; Owen Twesigye, a resident of Kalerwe zone, all from Kawempe division in Kampala city; and Moses Mugambe, a taxi driver and resident of Sekanusu zone in Wobulenzi town council. Twineamazima stated that the suspects are facing charges of malicious damage to church property and trespass.

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Following the incident, Christians congregated in the church, and Bishop Ssebaggala confirmed over 100 children into Christianity. He condemned the attack, emphasizing that it would not deter him from performing his duties until the Diocese gets its substantive Bishop. He also told the children that the attack was a manifestation of evil forces opposing their confirmation but expressed happiness that they prevailed.

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Ssemakula's election as Bishop was nullified after reports surfaced that his integrity had been misrepresented during the nomination and election process. However, some Christians in the Diocese contend that the House of Bishops made an erroneous decision to nullify his election based on unfounded allegations that he had fathered children outside of wedlock. 

Seven Christians from Luwero Diocese, led by David Lule Mutyaba Muzzanganda, have filed a petition with the High Court, seeking a declaration that the nullification of Kasana's election is null, void, and without legal effect. The High Court in Kampala is scheduled to begin hearing the case on October 10 of this year.