By Alex Gahima
The Chairperson of the Kisoro district NGO monitoring committee Mussa Ismal Onzu has written to the Principal Private Secretary to the President of Uganda, at State house, saying the district recommends that Lift Up Jesus Ministries maintains the control, name and leadership of the church in Rubuguri, Kisoro district.
Mussa Ismal Onzu, who is also the Kisoro district Chief Administrative officer officially communicated to the powers that be, after a mediation meeting organized by his office, between Lift Up Jesus Ministries and Hope Mission Uganda aborted yesterday, after one of the parties failed to send representatives to attend the meeting.
The letter dated, February 8th 2022, states that the District NGO Monitoring Committee has been closely involved in the reconciliation efforts between Lift Up Jesus and Hope Mission Uganda Ministries.
The letter further says that, efforts paid off back in September, 2021 with a decision reached between the conflicting parties.
Among the issues agreed upon by the two entities back in 2021, was that Lift Up Jesus will continue to control, name and choose leadership of the church in Rubuguri, as stipulated by under the Memorandum of Understanding.
Onzu says, the essence of the letter is to re-affirm an earlier decision of a mediation meeting between the two parties back in September 2021 while in Kabale district.
“It is baffling to see the two entities disagreeing, yet again. Their duties are clearly spelled out in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Lift up Jesus handles spiritual matters while Hope Mission Uganda Ministries handles social development issues, said Onzu.
He said the people of Rubuguri stand to lose out alot if these issues are not ironed out.
Lift Up Jesus Ministries Rubuguri headed by Bishop Aloysius Kiiza has been embroiled in conflict for the last three years after partners from Romania, Misiunea Speranta, now known as Hope Mission Uganda fell out over alleged financial discrepancies.
The two organizations signed an MOU to work together in Rubuguri back in 2015, to the delight of residents in Rubuguri, especially the Batwa, a minority group in the region.
During that time, a modern church was built for the community.
Other projects including an Orphanage valued at more than 200 million Ugandan shillings, a school and a modern hospital were also constructed.
In 2019, the relationship hit a snag when the Romanians stopped channeling funds through Lift Up Jesus accounts and began doing their own business in Rubuguri without informing Lift Up Jesus Ministries leadership.
Since that the Church has been closed several times leaving communities in the area puzzled.
Lift Up Jesus Ministries Overseer Bishop Kiiza says he has every right to stand firm despite mounting pressure from Politicians and the Romanians who have allegedly bribed their way into every office that can offer remedy.
Meeting in Kabale
A letter dated September 25th 2021, written and signed by the President of the Misiunea Speranta for Uganda Damsa Samolia and Secretary of Misiunea Speranta for Uganda Pirv Estera Lulia states that on the 13th and 14th of August 2021, while at White Horse Inn and Arcadia Cottages in Kabale, the two parties, Lift Up Jesus Ministries and Hope Mission Uganda held a mediation meeting that was chaired by Rubuguri town clerk Emmanuel Mbonye.
During that meeting, several resolutions were agreed upon including,
- All projects in Rubuguri will continue and will be developed just as planned, the only difference is that, Lift Up Jesus Global Ministries will help in Ministry work and everything they can as collaborators and partners.
- That the control, name and leadership of the Church at Rubuguri and any other churches that shall be established by the parties in the future shall be under Lift Up Jesus Global Ministries, just as it was before according, to the partnership.
During the two day meeting, the two parties agreed that they would convene and conduct a joint meeting at the Rubuguri Campus for the community members and other relevant stakeholders on the 14th and 15th of August 2022.
Pastor Margaret Kiiza, wife to Bishop Kiiza says all they want is for the Romanian partners to exit gracefully because they have behaved dishonorably.
Kisoro Politicians including Kirundo LCV councilor Deus Byamugisha and Kisoro LCV chairperson Abel Bizimana say, the investors need to be left alone because they have brought development to the region.
Suspects Appear in Court for Threatening Violence
Three pastors with Lift Up Jesus Rubuguri along with the Chief Executive officer of Hope Mission Uganda were yesterday released on court bail of 500,000 Ugandan shillings by Grade One Magistrate His Worship Raphael Vuwenyi.
The three Suspects namely Martin Ahimbisbwe 43, Charles Turyatemba 43, Cossum Mbabazi 30 appeared before His Worship Raphael Vuwenyi on charges of threatening violence.
The Chief Executive officer of Hope Mission Uganda Annah Nyiranziza aged 33 also appeared before the Grade One magistrate on the same charge.
The State attorney Peter Muhendo told court that some time last year, the said suspects threatened violence against another Pastor by the names of Micheal Kasingye.
The suspects, including one Manireba Jado, a Rwandese National working in the same project were all arrested and taken to Kisoro Police where they were released on Police bond for the last one month.
Manireba was not able to appear in Court as he was remanded on charges of illegal entry into the country. He is set to appear before the Grade one Magistrate’s court on February, 18th 2022.
The accused lawyer Solomon Saddam said Court should grant them bail because they are all Pastors and have families and will comply with the law.
Saddam said all the suspects have two sureties each to stand in for them.
Before the Court, his Worship Raphael Vuwenyi said the court would grant all the suspects a cash bail of 500,000 Ugandan shillings each and the sureties would present a non cash bail of 2 million shillings each.
The suspects are scheduled to re-appear in court on the 28th of February 2022.
Attempts to get a comment from legal representative for the accused was futile as he declined to comment.
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