Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Rubaga Cathedral has postponed a extremely anticipated Holy Mass intended to pray for the originate of Dr. Kizza Besigye, former opposition resolve and leader of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), and other political inmates. The resolution to defer the carrier came right now earlier than the scheduled 2 p.m. carrier, stirring confusion and emotions among supporters who had assembled on the cathedral grounds.
Numerous political figures had turned up for the match, collectively with Besigye’s fundamental other Winnie Byanyima and prominent political activist, the leadership of the newly registered People’s Front for Freedom, and officers from the National Cohesion Platform led by Secretary General David Louis Rubongoya.
Earlier than giving the last blessing at some level of the afternoon Mass, the cathedral administrator, Rev. Father Achilles Mayanja, introduced that the deliberate Mass in honour of Besigye and other detainees may perhaps well perhaps be postponed “until extra ogle.” Then all over again, sources at some level of the cathedral suggested journalists that the leadership had got directives from authorities authorities advising in opposition to retaining the prayer carrier.
The cathedral had already circulated digital fliers on its kindly platforms earlier within the day, informing the overall public of the postponement. Despite the announcement, loads of the individuals who had assembled insisted they intended to cease, praying collectively and urging the church leadership to proceed with the deliberate carrier.
Dr. Kizza Besigye has been on remand at Luzira Maximum Security Detention heart since November 2024, after being arrested in Nairobi, Kenya, and charged with treason and linked offences — allegations he denies. His detention, now over a year lengthy, has drawn stylish criticism from supporters, human rights organisations, and opposition figures.
Supporters impart the Mass used to be intended now not handiest to pray for Besigye’s originate nonetheless also to procedure attention to the broader be troubled of political prisoners in Uganda, some of whom gain been held for years with out trial. Byanyima has previously acknowledged she reached out to opposition networks for a checklist of detained occasion participants and used to be given bigger than 600 names.
The deliberate Rubaga Cathedral match used to be also half of every week of prayer actions declared by the PFF to designate the anniversary of Besigye’s sustained detention and to underscore calls for rule of legislation, appreciate for human rights, and level-headed political dialogue.
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