Peace Rugambwa Halts Registration Activities in Kabale After Church, Security Intervention
What You need to know
- Ms. Peace Rugambwa, has been stopped from continuing a registration exercise in Kabale District following concerns raised by the Catholic Church and members of the public over fears of possible election interference.
The Senior Presidential Advisor on Agriculture, Ms. Peace Rugambwa, has been stopped from continuing a registration exercise in Kabale District following concerns raised by the Catholic Church and members of the public over fears of possible election interference.
Ms. Rugambwa was blocked from proceeding with the registration after residents expressed suspicion that the exercise, which she said was intended to support citizens, could be linked to election manipulation, especially since the forthcoming elections are expected to be conducted electronically.
The concerns were heightened by complaints from the Catholic Church and other stakeholders, who alleged that Ms. Rugambwa and her team were targeting predominantly Catholic areas, including Kyanamira Sub-county, and conducting the registration activities at night.
The matter prompted a closed-door meeting held at Rushoroza Hill in Kabale Municipality, attended by leaders of the Catholic Church, security officials, and the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, who was dispatched by President Yoweri Museveni to investigate and resolve the impasse.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Deputy Speaker Tayebwa announced that Ms. Rugambwa had been stopped with immediate effect from carrying out the registration exercise and that the activity would only resume after the elections. He dismissed claims that Catholics in the Rushoroza region do not support President Museveni, describing them as false. Tayebwa noted that President Museveni secured 63 percent of the vote in the area during the previous presidential election.
Speaking to journalists on Saturday afternoon, the Vicar General of Kabale Diocese, Msgr. John Vianney Sunday, confirmed that Ms. Rugambwa apologized to the Catholic Church and that her apology was accepted. He emphasized that the church has a duty to protect its faithful and cautioned against exploiting people’s vulnerability. Msgr. Sunday also reaffirmed that the Catholic Church has historically supported President Museveni, adding that claims suggesting otherwise are divisive and undermine unity.
Meanwhile, Ms. Rugambwa said that President Museveni personally advised her to engage with the aggrieved parties and seek an amicable resolution. She explained that it was agreed she would halt the registration exercise but continue campaigning for President Museveni and all National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearers. She also apologized to the church and the public for any misunderstanding her actions may have caused.
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