by The Most Rev. Yusto Muhereza, Bishop Diocese of South West Uganda and Prisons
Kihiihi, Uganda
In 2000 the Charismatic Episcopal Church purchased a plot of land in Kihiihi, Uganda, now the See of the Diocese of South West Uganda and Prisons. The Church soon began building a place for worship. In 2006, Archbishop Charles Jones consecrated it as the Cathedral of the Diocese.
In 2003, priests who helped purchase the land defected and returned to their former denomination. The rector of the church in Kihiihi was among the defectors. He took certain church property including files containing vital information and the “Purchase Agreement” for the land. The defectors then inflated the purchase price of the land and claimed that the church still owed the seller 3,500,000 Ugandan Shillings (about 1,800 US Dollars) when we actually only owed 300,0000 USh (about $160) to complete the purchase.
In 2005 the defectors and their sympathizers took the church to court to demand payment of the remaining 3,500,000 USh. I was consecrated as Bishop over southwestern Uganda in 2006 and no court documents were ever submitted to me. A former Ugandan bishop did not notify anyone in the CEC about this case so when it came to court in April 2009 no one was there to represent the ICCEC. The judge ruled against us and issued a Decree used to vandalize and demolish our Cathedral building on Friday, April 3, two days before Palm Sunday.
On April 28, 2009, The Patriarch, The Most. Rev.Craig W. Bates, and his dear wife Cathy traveled to Kihiihi to console the Church over the circumstances prevailing in Kihiihi then. The Patriarch’s Office was able to help us purchase another place for a church building and to facilitate a group of Human Rights Lawyers to challenge the actions leading to the demolition of the Cathedral building. Our Attorneys filed two applications, the first to set aside and declare null and void the Decree which Uganda High Court issued to give the plantiff vacant possession of the disputed land in the. The second application was to set aside the Judgement made at end of the ex-parté legal procedings.
The Judge who heard the first suit and issued the devastating Decree was appointed to hear our case. We were asking the same Honourable Judge to overturn his earlier Judgement! On Thursday, December 17, 2009, His Lordship in the same Honourable Court ruled in favour of the Church, overturned his earlier Judgement and set aside the contentious Decree!! Such was His Lordship’s Interlocutory Judgement. My wife and I marched out of the court room triumphantly!! And why not? Our Lord Jesus Christ is our Advocate: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31 ff.
From this Ruling, we shall submit to the High Court for assessment the costs of defense and of the of the damaged building.
Thank you all for standing with us in prayer!! Please continue to pray with us. Though we were granted Legal Remedies, the Church still has no permanent place to worship.
No Estamos Solos!!
Christus Victor!!
The Most Rev.Yusto Muhereza,
Bishop Diocese of South West Uganda and Prisons
ICCEC - UGANDA
