By KT Reporter
The Church of Uganda’s provincial tribunal has fixed the date for hearing the application seeking the annulment of the election and enthronement of Rt. Rev Gaddie Akanjuna, Bishop of the Diocese of Kigezi.
The tribunal will sit on October 20, 2025, to hear a petition filed by Mbabazi Pierre Ntegyereize, Rubanda District Deputy Speaker.
In a letter dated October 14, 2025, addressed to Mababzi and signed by Canon Naboth Muhairwe, Chairperson of the Provincial tribunal, the tribunal has set October 20, 2025, at 10:00 AM as the date for hearing the petition.
Mbabazi has been granted permission to get the services of a lawyer for the proceedings. Mbabazi had also, together with Drake Twebaze Katabaazi, Professor John Kakitari, Margret Bikangaga, Michael Zaribwende, Dickson Kyabaseeta, and Lauben Kuribakanya, in 2022, petitioned the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda.
The petitioners, through their lawyers of Nzige, Jamero, and Company Advocates, disputed the legality of Akanjuna’s election arguing that the election arguing that he does not have academic qualifications for the office.
They also note that the Electoral College that elected him was also not properly constituted as per the guidelines of the Church of Uganda canons.
However, Mbabazi, who was the lead petitioner, made a U-turn and withdrew. Even after petitioning the court, Mbabazi would appear on local radio stations in Kabale district, criticizing the diocese of Kigezi.
Akanjuna was elected the 6th Bishop of the Diocese of Kigezi in February and consecrated in May 2022. Akanjuna replaced Rt. Rev. Goerge Bagamuhunda.
But after his election, Mbabazi, also a resident of Bushundwe village in Kakore parish, Hamurwa sub-county, Rubanda district, dragged the Church of Uganda provincial assembly and the board of registered trustees of the Church of Uganda to the High Court Civil division in Kampala, citing irregularities in the process of election and enthronement.
Mbabazi argued, and affidavits supported by Nelson Habasa, a resident of Rubanda town council and former Rubanda County West Member of Parliament, argued that Akanjuna was intentionally elected and consecrated at a time when the diocese had no tribunal.
Mbabazi also argued that Akanjuna committed an ecclesiastical offence, to wit, accepting nomination and consequent consecration as Bishop, very well aware that he did have the requisite academic qualifications.
However, in a ruling dated January 24, 2025, Justice Ssekaana, the head of the Civil Division, quashed the petition, saying that the Provincial Constitution Article 13.6, which requires a candidate to have a degree and an additional diploma in theology, which Akanjuna has.
Ssekaana also ruled that the provincial tribunal is already established and the court cannot interfere in the processes of the church or the dissolution of any disputes within the church.
Ssekaana encouraged Mbabazi and the church to settle their disputes through established avenues. This led Mbabazi in July 2025 to petition the provincial tribunal demanding the nullification of Akanjuna as the Bishop of Kigezi diocese.
-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
