Protest against City Pastor Aloysius Bujjingo unites activists, especially women. (Courtesy Photo)
Ugandan police on Monday arrested a number of protesters who hit the streets of the capital over ‘inappropriate and inhumane’ remarks made by House of Prayer Ministries Pastor Aloysius Bujjingo.
The protest orchestrated by activists grieved by Bujjingo’s comments on wife’s ten year battle with haemorrhage, saw many gather at Bat Valley Theatre with intentions of working on a petition to the Speaker of Parliament Rt Hon Rebecca A. Kadaga.
Police deployment led to the arrest of eight women and one Edison Kakuru, the president Makerere University School of Education.
This development comes even as much as the Pastor issued an apology over the weekend.
“His apology was not authentic, and all through he tried to justify his actions,” the activists said, with some caring cotton, placards and others sanitary pads.
“Bujjingo should be restrained from talking about marriage issues that are not meant for the public,” they added.
The group included media personality Aloysius Matovu Junior, Namulindwa Flavia, Sophie Gombya and others.
Local media sources quote Mr Buule Chrispus, a rights activist, as urging the public to sign a petition calling upon government to bring the pastor to “order.’
“Much as religious leaders are supposed to respect and promote human rights, the country has been shocked by the continuous acts by a one Pastor Bujjingo who has made it a tendency to abuse and dehumanize his wife a one Teddy Bujjingo. Upon this background, we call upon women Organisations, Parliament, Uganda Communications Commission embassies and Police to bring the pastor to order. The continuous hate speech subjected to Teddy Bujingo violates women rights and taints her womanhood,” he said.
Human rights activist and former Ethics minister Mrs Miria Matembe said relevant authorities have to take actions against the preacher. She further revealed he is “misleading congregants” hence not worthy of a pastoral title.
Summoned
Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, Mr Patrick Onyango on Monday told media reporters that the Kampala Metropolitan police commander, Moses Kafeero, has summoned Pastor Bujjingo to appear at Police.
Mr Onyango attributed the sermons to Bujjingo comments that have sparked and incited violence among activists who had taken to the streets to protest.
Mr Onyango assured journalists police will write a letter to Pastor Bujjingo to “stop talking, writing or uttering words that incite the public.”
