Health Minister Dr Elioda Tumwesigye is on a collision course with religious leaders in his home district of Sheema in western Uganda, who accuse him of fanning sectarianism and causing animosity between local religious sects.
Catholic and Anglican Christian clerics in the district blamed the minister and Sheema North county Member of Parliament for taking sides in last month’s general elections and dividing the people along religious lines.
The complaints were voiced by Mbarara Municipality town clerk, Mr. David Bashakara who is the chairperson of the Peace and Justice Committee in the Catholic Deanery covering parishes of Mushanga, Nyabwina, Rwentunda, Kashekuro and Buhimba.
He told Chimpreports on Monday that Minister Tumwesigye who is the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Chairperson in Sheema district defied the party and national constitutions by openly supporting and campaigning for candidates that were not even his party’s.
The result of this Bashakara noted, was a major standoff between Anglicans who had the Minister’s backing on one hand, and Catholics on the other.
The Minister is said to have campaigned against the incumbent Sheema district woman MP Ms. Rosemary Nyakikongoro and district LC5 chairperson, Mr. Mugisha Pastori in the elections, who were carrying his party flag.
He went on to show support and fund the campaigns of independent candidates, a decision Bashakara said was entirely religious.
It is said that the Minister backed Anglican independent candidates Ms. Jacklet Atuhaire and David Kabigumira who won as district woman MP and LC5 chairman seats respectively, defeating Nyakikongoro and Mugisha who are Catholics.
“Besides the religious clashes that rocked Sheema in the 1970s, we have not had another serious one, but now the Minister poses a big risk to this five year old district,” said Bashakara.
He noted that the Minister shamelessly held day and night meetings with the camps of the independent candidates, and “literally used his position to dictate who gets elected.”
Mr. Bashakara also accused former Bushenyi district chairperson Canon Yowasi Makaru who is now a presidential advisor, of preaching enmity in Anglican Churches, asking Christians to vote only for their fellow Anglicans.
The aggrieved group says the two leaders have ushered a challenging era in the new district and want President Museveni to take disciplinary action against them.
When contacted for a comment, Dr. Elioda told Chimpreports that the allegations were false and the minds behind them aimed at promoting more hatred and polarization in society.
“It’s time for reconciliation and bringing our people together for development. For those who lost, the world has not come to an end, let them continue on a positive note. Next elections they can win and come back as has happened in Rukungiri with Hon Winnie Matsiko, Ntungamo with Hon Beatrice Rwakimari and Kisoro with Hon Bitangaro,” said Dr. Elioda