By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
BUSHENYI
Cases of priests deviating from their calling are on increase in Mbarara Archdiocese.
Some church leaders and ordinary christians are stepping forward with action and proposal for change.
The latest scandal has been spotted in Kyamuhunga catholic parish, Bushenyi district southwest Uganda where alleged sexual immorality and spiritual violence of clergy is haunting the church’s managed hospital, St. Daniel Comboni Hospital.
Parishioners concerned about the management of the parish and community hospital, St. Daniel Comboni hospital under the parish are accusing the parish priest Rev. Fr. Ayebare Archangel and the hospital Board Chairman Fr. Suzario Mwesiime of being sex pests and are preying on married women everyday.
Gaffa Denis, a christian alleges that Fr. Ayebare snatched from him his wife and that he sleeps with other women from the parish.
“One of the Reverend Fathers who is my Parish Priest has been sleeping with people’s women including taking my own wife,” Gaffa said in a telephone interview with Parrots Media.
On the other hand, the Comboni hospital Board Chairman, Fr. Suzario Mwesiime is being accused of sleeping with the hospital administrator Rev. Sr. Rovinah Ninsiima, a nun, in the hospital premises.
A few christians have spoken up about the need to address the underlying problem in the parish. These have written to the district head of security, RDC Robert Atuhaire informing him of the planned peaceful demonstration against the trio.
In a notice dated January 1, 2024 as received by the RDC’s secretary on January 5, 2024, christians allege increased cases of corruption, poor health services and mismanagement of hospital by the trio.
“Alleged immoral behaviors of the hospital Board Chairman (Rev. Fr. Suzario Mwesiime) and one Sr. Rovinah Ninsiima (new administrator) who openly engage in sexual affairs with impunity while in the community and using hospital resources like cars, Guest house, fuel and others,” read a notice in parts.
The notice copied to the district LCV chairman, Igara West MP Hon. Gaffa Mbwatekamwa, Kyamuhunga Town Council Mayor, Comboni and Gongo area LC1 chairpersons, christians further noted that they are protesting infidelity of Rev. Fr. Ayebare, who they say his behavior as the head of the hospital disciplinary committee does not only violate his vows as a priest but also haunt moral integrity of the hospital.
“Infidelity by Rev. Fr. Archangel Ayebare (Parish Priest Kyamuhunga) who it is alleged that on several occasions has been caught red-handed engaging in sexual affairs with people’s wives who live in the community and parish neighborhood yet, he heads the disciplinary committee of the hospital Board,” demonstration notice added.
On contrary, Didas Bindeeba, one of the Christians who attended the meeting which passed the notice denied having signed on the notice because it contained allegations which according to him were typically made without proof.
Bindeeba said the the only accusations against the priests and hospital administrator are mismanagement of the hospital funds, dishonest and lack of accountability among other demands.
But, Gaffa and other attendants of the meeting are insisting on immoral behaviors of the priests and threatened to expose them further if no immediate actions is taken by the Bushenyi Vicariate Archbishop Lambert Bainomugisha.
“We are going to get a sage of our women, dress it with wedding gown and when that priest (Fr. Ayebare) is on the Altar, we shall take it to him and say this is your wife,” Gaffa threatened.
Another member who attended the meeting, Asiimwe, a christian confirmed the authenticity of the notice adding that one of the attendants at the meeting said he has evidence of sex abuse against the parish priest.
Furthermore, reports indicate that Fr. Suzario together with the hospital administrator connive with Bushenyi District Health Officer (DHO), Dr. Edward Mwesiime to swindle government medicines given to the hospital as grant under Primary Health Care. Sources indicate that the hospital pharmacy has been for the last one year operated by a midwife nurse which puts the lives of patients at risk as they are like to suffer injuries from consumption of expired and contaminated medicine but the board is in a deep slumber.
Christians have therefore, resorted to holding a peaceful demonstration on January 12, where over 200 christians from different walks of life will march to petition the area Mayor, one way of expressing their grievances both to the district and the Archdiocese.
“The planned demonstration will take place on January 12th, 2024, starting at 10am with meeting from Comboni hospital Kyamuhunga catholic parish to Gongo cell and the final convergence will be at Kyamuhunga Town Council offices where we will handover our petition to the Mayor of Kyamuhunga Town Council,” read a notice to the RDC.
Attempts to get comments from the accused persons namely the Comboni hospital administrator, Rev. Sr. Rovinah Ninsiima and Rev. Fr. Ayebare – Parish Priest Kyamuhunga were futile because their known contacts were unavailable.
