The Bishop of West Ankole Diocese, The Rt Rev. Johnson Twinomujuni, has blasted Pastor and leader of House of Prayer Ministries, Aloysius Bugingo for misinterpreting the Bible and misleading his followers.

Recently, pastor Bugingo made a declaration that the phrase ‘till death do us part’ is not biblical, and that it is from Satan! In so doing, the pastor attacks the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Pentecostal Churches, associating them with what he calls a practice from Satan.

Bishop Twinomujuni whose Diocese falls under the Church of Uganda, in his rebuttal to Bugingo’s unconvincing assertions  says, “Bugingo claims that he has read the Bible a number of times he is not even able to count! That in itself is an interesting claim, which I wish he were humble enough not to associate himself with. Even if it was true that he has read the Bible countless times, it would be prudent for him to know that it is one thing to read even several times, but another to understand.”

“I can’t believe that these words are from someone who claims to be a pastor! Nonetheless, I’m not surprised that he is making such a statement after divorcing his wife on grounds of a sickness,” the bishop said, adding that Bugingo states that nowhere does the Bible say that the married should not separate.

Remember that the Bible is God’s holy, infallible, and inerrant word, some versions of which he once set ablaze on an Easter Monday, claiming that they were deceptive.

For this particular statement and others of similar nature he has been making, one underlying and obvious factor, which is having a significant influence on his judgement, is his divorce, the possibility of other forms of conditioning notwithstanding.

He said Bugingo’s yearning soul is in a desperate need for justification over his prejudiced separation with his bona fide wife, which, because he cannot get it by virtue of moral objectivity, he is deliberately misinterpreting the Bible, so he can justify his act if it were possible.

Also, it is so disheartening that Bugingo is taking advantage of the innocence of those that attend him, some of whom have been blinded and/or brainwashed by his heretical eloquence that finds solace in a theological vacuum that he himself has created and made them victims of.

Let us now zoom in on the issue at hand and do a theological analysis of his claims, basing on the Bible, of which, deriving from his utterance, he is a prolific student and a voracious reader.

Does the Bible he has read countless times have the following verses: Rom. 7:2-3; Mal. 2:13-16; Heb. 13:4; Mat. 5:32; 19:4-9; plus 1 Cor. 7:2-40, and especially verse 10 which says, “To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord), the wife should not separate from her husband.” Verse 11b also states clearly, “and let not the husband put away his wife.”

Again does the Bible Bugingo has read contain Gen. 2:18; Eph. 5:33; Luke 16:18, and 1 Cor. 7:39 which says, “A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to get married to whom she wishes, but only in the Lord”?

What is Bugingo’s interpretation of these verses, and if he has not read them, which Bible has he been reading all those countless times?!

Consider Jesus’ command: “What God has joined together let no man put asunder” (Mat. 19:6). Has Bugingo read it? Can he define either the logical or conceptual scope of its duration? In other words, where and when does the legality of that instruction’s demand end?

About those who are joined in marriage Jesus asserts, “They are no longer two, but one flesh” (Gen. 2:24; Mat. 19:6). How can one separate with oneself?! Looking closely at the immediate context of the verse and Jesus’ plot of thought here, one doesn’t have to be a genius or even a cultured theologian to realise that the word “therefore” which Jesus uses immediately after his assertion, is actually ‘there for something’ – to emphasize what is otherwise implied, that he (Jesus) is speaking against divorce. Actually, the words ‘no man’s in the phrase “what God has joined together, let no man separate”, speak also to the two, who are married. The husband and wife are also included in that prohibition.

There is the except clause of Mat. 5:23 that has always been looked at as Jesus’ permission to divorce. While it is true that “marital unfaithfulness” or sexual immorality can be a ground for divorce, if it happens, it comes as a regrettable consequence of an already defiled marriage, not as its approved remedy.

Does the Bible Mr. Bugingo has read have God’s assertion “I hate divorce” in Mal. 2:16? When God says so, what does that mean for the married? Doesn’t that imply that God requires that our marriage be a lasting one? Where does a marriage whose parties won’t divorce end, if not till death separates them?

In Eph. 5:25-33, Paul likens the marriage between a husband and wife to Christ’s relationship with the church, and commands the man to love his wife as Christ loves the church. When does Bugingo expect Christ to be separated with his ‘bride’ – the church?

When Bugingo says that the marital vows are not in the Bible. Is this to indicate that for him every activity, phenomenon, invention, and venture ought to be stated in the Bible for it to be true, right, or acceptable?

Should the Bible have stated in black and white: build cars, use computers, boil water before drinking it, form a political party, construct aeroplanes, make tarmac roads, establish hospitals, design smart phones, make jets, use treadmill and TRX bands for fitness, establish constitutions, set up universities, etc…so we know that doing such is biblical, and therefore acceptable?!

God created us in His image and gave us brains to use. In some aspects the Bible is specific and particular in accordance with both the immediate and wider contexts, but in other and actually most cases it states what is true or right in principle. What the Bible says in principle informs our conscience and so guides or facilitates our decisions and establishments.

As Christians we live by faith and reason, not faith apart from rationality, because we are commanded to love God with all our hearts, souls and minds (Mat. 22:37; Mk. 12:30, and Luk. 10:27).

Bugingo’s reasoning that the marriage vows compel the married to kill each other is very unfortunate. The worst of this assertion is its implication. He interprets the statement to mean, ’cause death, so you can then get married to another.’ What peace do those who divorce enjoy, after? What society would survive if the parties that make it separated at each and every misunderstanding or conflict?

Dear Aloysius, marriage survives on the classic nature of agape love as stated in 1 Cor. 13.1-9, not on a series of separation, or of murder and remarriage. Love which understands, which bears, which forgives, is the kind that sustains marriage to the end.

Bugingo asserts that those marital vows came from Satan. Which irrefutable proof has he that their origin or author is Satan? Which evidence is there that makes such a claim valid?

“May the Lord bless you for reading this? May He protect you from false and pseudo ideologies and teachings from self-styled liars, enemies of the gospel and God’s infallible word? May the Holy Spirit illumine our minds and keep us alert.

Beloved, take heart.” You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16, 20),”  Twinomujuni says.

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The outgoing Minister of ICT & National Guidance, Frank Tumwebaze has today officially handed over office to his successor, Judith Nabakooba who was among other appointees sworn in yesterday at State House Entebbe.

While addressing guests at the handover ceremony Nabakooba and her Junior Peter Ogwang Ogwang stated that they would allow corruption in the ministry.

Nabakooba who doubles as Mityana Woman MP was late last year appointed by President Yoweri Museveni as new ICT minister in a minor reshuffle that saw her processor Tumwebaze moved to the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.

Minister Nabakooba said she will not allow corruption in her ministry and asked the staff to work hard for effective service delivery.

Minister Ogwang on his part pledged to diligently serve the ICT sector. On behalf of the appointing authority and my own behalf, I pledge to work diligently to serve the ICT sector. I know how far honourable Frank Tumwebaze has brought this sector and we are not here to let him down but to make it even better,” he said.

Ogwang Ogwang also asked for support from the ministry’s agencies and departments as he and his boss Nabakooba take office. Like Nabakooba, he said they won’t allow corruption to thrive in the ICT ministry. “We shall not tolerate corruption,” he said.

During yesterday’s swearing in ceremony of the new ministers, Museveni urged them to fight corruption in their ministries.

The handover ceremony took place in the boardroom of the ICT ministry in Kampala. Representatives from different departments and agencies that fall under ICT ministry attended the colourful ceremony held Tuesday morning. They include ICT Permanent Secretary Vincent Bagire, Uganda Communications Commission Executive Director Eng. Moses Mutabazi and Executive Director of Uganda Media Centre Ofwono Opondo, among others.

While addressing the audience, Tumwebaze said government had invested resources in connecting Uganda through broadband infrastructure. “Without broadband, any activity you’d want done wouldn’t be executed,” he said.

“Together with Uganda Media Centre, we communicated Cabinet decisions to the people of Uganda. Previously, these important decisions were secretive. We also established Government Communication Interactive Centre as a link of the citizens to the Government of Uganda,” Tumwebaze said.

Tumwebaze congratulated his counterpart Nabakooba and her junior Ogwang for being appointed to cabinet and assured the new leadership of the agencies’ cooperation and enthusiasm.

Bagire, while appreciating Tumwebaze, said the ICT ministry always got support from the former boss in carrying out its roles. We have had the best support we ever need from the minister in implementing the roles of the Ministry & staff here can testify,” he said.

Other agencies under ICT Ministry include; National Information Technology Authority (NITA) and Uganda Broadcasting Corporation represented by Deputy Managing Director Maurice Mugisha at the handover ceremony.

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Dr Louis A. Kasekende’s journey as the Deputy Governor at the Bank of Uganda (BoU) is supposed to end on January 13, 2020, after getting the second five-year term on January 18, 2010. He first served the bank from 1999 until 2002. Latest reports show he handed over office today as he awaits his fate, having allegedly asked for contract extension.

Kasekende alongside his boss Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile have been credited for ensuring that the central bank fosters price stability and a sound financial system. Together with other institutions, BoU has played a pivotal role as a centre of excellence in upholding macroeconomic stability.

However, Dr Kasekende had his reputation brought to questions following the probe of BoU on the sale of seven defunct commercial banks whose closure and liquidation were questioned as the exercise ignored laid down guidelines and procedures.

The affected banks that had Kasekende’s reputation tarnished were; Teefe trust Bank, International Credit Bank, Greenland Bank, Cooperative Bank, National Bank of Commerce, Global Trust Bank and Crane Bank Limited.

It should be remembered that Kasekende resisted the idea that the Auditor General probe BoU over the closure of the seven banks to the extent that he had to seek legal opinion from the solicitor general. The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga would silence Kasekende over the matter he thought it was subjudice.

The Auditor General in his report would accuse Kasekende and other senior officers of BoU of not giving him all the documents needed at the time to carry out proper investigations. MPs on COSASE late by Abdu Katuntu would later force Kasekende and others to produce some of the required documents which they thought were confidential whereas not.

MPs on COSASE in their recommendations, said that Kasekende’s and Tumusiime-Mutebile’s positions as Chairman and vice chairman of BoU board weakened the institution’s supervision as they reported to themselves. They continue to do so as the recommendations to delink the two officials from the board has not been effected by the Ministry of Finance under which BoU falls.

A committee appointed by President Yoweri Museveni to look into the cause of tension within the BoU staff established that there was a clique aligned to Kasekende and the other supporting his boss Tumusiime-Mutebile, which the senior staff interviewed said it was not good for the institution’s smooth running.

It is said Kasekende wants President Museveni to give him another contract. He is said to be lobbying the Catholic establishment to do this job alongside top gurus in the Ministry of Finance.

Should Kasekende leave BoU, it will be the beginning of the reorganisation of the institution whose image has been tainted by the recent scandals such as the theft of the old currency notes by its staff, just to mention but a few. If he leaves, he will do so leaving BoU in dire need of capitalization, as cited by the 2020/21 budget framework paper. BoU has spent billions of taxpayers’ money carelessly as it dealt with MMKAS Advocates, Sebalu & Lule Advocates who court said were conflicted in the BoU versus Ruparelia Group of Companies.

Kasekende’s other postings

From May 2006 to 2009, he served as Chief Economist of the African Development Bank (AfDB). As Chief Economist, he was the Bank’s spokesperson on socio-economic and development issues of importance for Africa. He supervised the Development Research Department, the Statistics Department and the African Development Institute. Between 2002 and 2004, he served as Alternate Executive Director and later as Executive Director at the World Bank for Africa Group 1, including 22 countries mostly from Anglophone Sub-Saharan Africa.

Prior to joining the World Bank, he had worked for 17 years at the Bank of Uganda in several capacities, including Director of Research Department, Executive Director responsible for Research and Policy and served as Deputy Governor between 1999 and 2002. He has previously served as a member of the United Nations Group of Eminent Persons for the Least Developed Countries and the World Bank Knowledge Advisory Commission.

Currently, Dr Kasekende is a Board Member of the African Export Import Bank (AFREXIMBANK), the International Economics Association (IEA) and the Africa Economic Research Consortium (AERC), and is a member of the National Steering Committee on Capital Markets Development in Uganda.

Dr Kasekende holds A Bachelor of Arts Degree of Makerere University, Diploma in Econometrics, Masters of Arts and PhD in Econometrics of the University of Manchester. He has authored several articles in academic journals and books.

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Masaka High Court has charged Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo, with illegal possession of firearms and four other counts, remanding him to Masaka central prison.

Ssekikubo, one of the NRM rebel MPs who don’t agree entirely with the party on certain political matters in the country, was arrested last Friday for attempting to forcefully enter the Lwemiyaga cattle market that had been closed over the outbreak of foot and mouth disease is facing fresh charges of illegal possession of a firearm and malicious damage to property among others.

While appealing before Masaka chief magistrate on Monday, the court heard that in 2010, during the NRM party primaries Ssekikubo shot Habibu Nsamba Kanyarutoke a security officer during a hotly contested party primary where Ssekikubo was contesting with Patrick Nkalubo.

Court also heard that Ssekikubo maliciously damaged electoral materials for NRM Party that were being used in the party primaries, and obstructed police officers from doing their work.

Ssekikubo was also charged with inciting violence.

Ssekikubo through his lawyer Medard Lubega Ssegona, had applied for bail after presenting four sureties including  Sembabule woman Member of Parliament Hanifah Kawooya, MP Barnabas Tinkasimire, MP Florence Namayanja, and Johnson Kamugisha.

However, the presiding magistrate Deogratius Ssejemba told the court that he needed some time to study Ssekikubo’s case file, adjourning the matter to tomorrow.

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