For the most recent years, president Museveni has been offering cars as gifts to all newly consecrated bishops of the Anglican and catholic faith.
On a rare occasion, he delegated Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Kahinda Otafiire to represent him in Besigye’s town of Rukungiri at the consecration and enthronement of Rt Rev Benon Magezi as the bishop of North Kigezi Diocese, an event that sparked controversy and cohesion among christians wondering why the minister did not deliver “the usual gift” from the president.
Surprisingly, in his remarks, Otafiire annoyed the congregation when he said he got a short notice from the president the previous night to represent him in Rukungiri and added that he had forgotten to come along with the car from the president.
Pundits say, Otafiire told the congregation that he had forgotten the car as a means of pleasing them and protection from being booed.
He sounded unsure if the car was available for the newly consecrated bishop and based on the very many occasions where president had been delivering cars as gifts at such kind of events.
It is from the above annoyance and denial of the bishop’s car that Christians mainly from the forum for democratic change FDC started a fundraising drive to buy a posh car for their bishop in addition to the car worth 80Million shillings that they had given to the retiring bishop Patrick Tugume.
To avoid humiliation, the president through a top Rukungiri Tycoon Kazoora of HEIF Security firm and Canon Jolly Babirukamu the diocesan head of laity delivered a Mitsubishi pajero to the bishop last week.
However, critics say, the act of failing to deliver the vehicle on the day of consecration was a sign of mockery to the Rukungiri faithfuls.
“It has always been a norm for the president to give cars to all bishops. Why did he refuse to give our bishop a car on his big day? I think he wanted to see how we react” a lay canon who preferred anonymity told our reporter.
This however has not stopped the fundraising group from soliciting money for the car, perhaps they look forward to buying a better car than President Museveni offered.
