Kitazigurukwa COU Christians bid fairwell to Rev. Gershom Muhumuza with mixed feelings

Rukungiri: Rev. Gershom Muhumuza received a sorrowful farewell on January 12, at Kitazigurukwa Church of Uganda, Rujumbura Archdeaconry, North Kigezi Diocese, after serving just 11 and a half months. His transfer, marked by controversy and tension, took place before his official installation. 

Key among the controversies was the incident that occured in on July 19, 2024 when one of Rev. Muhumuza’s cows was slaughtered, and the meat was dumped in his compound, a grim reminder of a similar incident involving his predecessor, Rev. Benson Akankwatsa, now the Archdeacon of Buhunga Archdeaconry. 

The Chairperson of the Father’s Union Jackson Tumwesigye, voiced the congregation’s heartbreak over the premature transfer of a priest they described as dedicated. He blamed some church members for disrupting unity and cancelling a planned gift of a motorcycle for Rev. Muhumuza, which had been agreed upon by church members. 

Cue in….Tumwesigye on cancelling Reverend’s gift//RR 

Tumwesigye also revealed that a group of church members tried to pressure him into writing a letter against Rev. Muhumuza to present to the Bishop, which he refused to do. He lamented the ongoing conflicts in Kitazigurukwa Church, known for frequent disputes targeting priests. 

Cue in…Tumwesigye on letter to the Bishop//RR 

The newly transferred Parish Priest to Nyamabale Church of Uganda Parish in Nyarushanje Sub-county Rev. Muhumuza urged Christians to remain calm, stay steadfast in faith, and rely on God’s guidance. He prayed for faithfulness in his new ministry and attributed his early transfer to mistreatment by influential church members who referred to him as a villager, despite his roots in Rukungiri Municipality. 

Cue in….Rev. Muhumuza on God’s guidance//RR