Museveni Ordered Rubaga Cathedral To Cancel Besigye, Political Prisoners Prayers – Winnie Byanyima

Hundreds of faithful, politicians, friends and families of political activists currently detained in different parts of the country, were on Monday left stranded at St. Mary’s Cathedral Rubaga, after the church administration revealed that prayers for jailed veteran opposition leader, Dr Kizza Besigye and other political prisoners had been postponed.
Although the Rubaga Cathedral administrator Rev. Fr. Achilles Mayanja, didn’t give a reason for the postponement of the prayers that were scheduled for 2pm, it has now emerged that President Yoweri Museveni allegedly ordered for the postponement.
According Winnie Byanyima, Dr Besigye’s wife, President Museveni allegedly called the Archbishop of Kampala Paul Ssemogerere and ordered him to postpone the prayers to another day, to allow President Museveni investigate why the prayers were being held.
“While we came in peace to bring our pain and to pray, I was called here yesterday by the Archbishop His Grace Paul Ssemogerere and he told me that he had received a call from President Museveni asking him to cancel the mass, he pleaded with him (Museveni) not to cancel the mass” she said.
Ms Byanyima noted that even though the Archbishop explained to President Museveni that prayers for prisoners and the sick are a Catholic tradition and that the Besigye’s were married at the cathedral, Museveni allegedly still declined the prayers to be held on Monday, since they may be political and needed to be first investigated.
“He (Museveni) finally relented and said, okay, postpone the mass, I need to do an investigation because I think it is political. Postpone it for a few days, I will call you back and I will tell you what I find out” she said.
Byanyima noted that following the dialogue between the two leaders, Archbishop Ssemogerere informed her that he will reschedule another prayer day for Dr Besigye and other political prisoners after President Museveni informs him of the completion of the investigations.
“So we are here and unable to have the mass that we wanted because of the order of our President” she said.
Byanyima further expressed dismay at President Museveni’s order which has made it impossible for the people that had gathered at the cathedral to bring the pain of the families of their loved ones who are held in prison or who have disappeared.
“Because for the first time, in many many years, have I seen this. That the head of state interferes in the space of faith and orders that a citizen is not prayed for, never heard of it before in our history, it is unprecedented” she said.
Following the postponement of the prayers, a few of the people gathered at Pope Paul Memorial Hotel, where a brief prayer was said for jailed opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye and other political prisoners.
From last week, a number of politicians and well-wishers called on People to gather at Rubaga Cathedral for the prayers, on Sunday, the National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu aka Bobi Wine also called on all Ugandans to attend the Holy Mass for Dr Besigye and all political prisoners.
“I encourage Ugandans of goodwill to attend this Holy Mass organised by Dr. Kizza Besigye’s family at Lubaga Cathedral tomorrow, to pray for him and other prisoners of conscience. Dr. Besigye remains under unjustified detention for over a year now – prevented from accessing medical care of his choice despite his deteriorating health. May God hear the collective prayers of the people of Uganda for freedom” Bobi Wine Posted on his X account.