In a ruling dated January 24, 2025, Justice Ssekaana, the head of the Civil Division quashed the petition saying that the Provincial Constitution Article 13.6, which requires a candidate to have a degree and an additional diploma in theology which Akanjuna has. Ssekaana also ruled that the provincial tribunal is already established and the court cannot interfere in the processes of the church, or the dissolution of any disputes within the church.
The High
Court Civil division in Kampala has quashed an application in which
Pierre Mbabazi Ntegyereize, Rubanda District Deputy Speaker had filed a petition seeking for cancellation of election and enthronement of Rt. Rev Gaddie
Akanjuna, Bishop of Diocese of Kigezi.
Akanjuna
was elected the 6th Bishop of the Diocese of Kigezi in February and
consecrated in May 2022. Akanjuna replaced Rt. Rev. Goerge Bagamuhunda.
Later,
Mbabazi, also a resident of Bushundwe village in Kakore parish, Hamurwa
sub-county, Rubanda district dragged the Church of Uganda provincial assembly
and the board of registered trustees Of the Church of Uganda citing
irregularities in the process of election and enthronement.
Mbabazi and affidavits supported by Nelson Habasa, a
resident of Rubanda town council and former Rubanda County West Member of Parliament, argued that Akanjuna was intentionally elected and consecrated at a
time when the diocese had no tribunal. Mbabazi also argued that Akanjuna
committed an ecclesiastical offence to wit; accepting nomination and consequent
consecration as Bishop very well aware that he did have the requisite academic
qualifications.
However,
in a ruling dated January 24, 2025, Justice Ssekaana, the head of the Civil
Division quashed the petition saying that the Provincial Constitution Article
13.6, which requires a candidate to have a degree and an additional diploma in
theology which Akanjuna has. Ssekaana also ruled that the provincial tribunal
is already established and the court cannot interfere in the processes of the
church or the dissolution of any disputes within the church.
Ssekaana
encouraged Mbabazi and the church to settle their disputes through established
avenues. He also ruled that each party bears its costs.
When
contacted to react to the ruling, Bishop Akanjuna referred our reporter to the diocesan head of laity, Canon Baryantuma Munono.
Munono welcomed the ruling saying that
Mbabazi had made a miscalculation to fight the church. He warned Mbabazi
against interfering with God’s work and the church's operations.
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Mbabazi
says that he is still analyzing the ruling to determine the next course of
action. Mbabazi had also together with Drake Twebaze Katabaazi, Professor John
Kakitari, Margret Bikangaga, Michael Zaribwende, Dickson Kyabaseeta and Lauben
Kuribakanya in 2022 petitioned the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the
petitioners through their lawyers of Nzige, Jamero, and Company Advocates
disputed the legality of Akanjuna’s election arguing that the election arguing
that he does not have academic qualifications for the office.
They also note
that the Electoral College that elected him was also not properly constituted
as per the guidelines of the Church of Uganda canons. However, Mbabazi who was the lead petitioner made a U-turn and withdrew.
Even
after petitioning the court, Mbabazi would several times appear on local radio
stations in Kabale district criticizing the diocese of Kigezi.