Priest suspended for selling church land

By Brendah Akankwatsa,

KAMPALA:

The Bishop of Namirembe Diocese, Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira has on Monday suspended an Anglican priest for allegedly aiding the illegal sale of church land.

The suspended is Rev. Semei Sebina Sekiziyivu, the Parish Priest at St Andrew’s Church of Uganda in Kiteezi Kampala. He has been suspended from conducting priestly duties pending investigations into accusations.

The Bishop immediately replaced him with retired Rev Eriya Kawooya who will temporary play oversight and administrative roles at the parish.

According to a suspension letter by the Diocesan secretary, Rev. Canon Henry Segawa on behalf of the Bishop which Parrots UG seen, the priest has been indefinitely suspended on accusations of failing to follow the necessary procedures of the church

“It has come to our knowledge that how you have handled church land issues did not follow the procedures of the church. You are hereby directed to step aside in matters of the parish and land until you are recalled,” read excerpts of the letter dated September 3.

The suspension follow complaints by Christians questioning how the priest allowed the takeover of church land without due regard to the processes and procedures of the church.

Rev Sekiziyivu was suspended together with the Archdeacon of Gayaza, Rev. Herbert Nyanzi Kabanda who was his immediate supervisor.

The head of laity, St. Andrews Church Julius Buwembo says that Rev. Sekiziyivu fronted various people to grab the church land in the guise of development.

The disputed land measures 2 acres and is located at Bamba village. It is alleged that Rev. Sekiziyivu directed the destruction of an avocado and coffee plantation to establish a new church in an area less than a mile away from St. Andrews Church.

Buwembo also alleged that Sekiziyivu allowed Mary Namuddu to access and develop part of the land without the consent of the Church leadership.

He said when the faithful attempted to question Namuddu’s acquisition of the land, she claimed she had acquired the lease through the Namirembe Diocese, while being shielded by Rev. Sekiziyivu.

“While using forged documents, Rev. Sekiziyivu granted a lease to Namuddu and he has been using force on all land matters. At Kayanga village, we have 50 acres but with squatters and what he did, on the remaining space, he brought people on it,” said Buwembo.

Rev. Can. Segawa commended the leadership of the diocese for the courage and sacrifice to save the church land