Senior Pentecostal church leaders in Kabarole are taking an active role in national politics.
A fortnight ago, Dickson Lubega the senior pastor of Kabarole Christian Fellowship Church told congregants not to support the National Resistance Movement in 2011. He told worshippers at Nyakasura that the ruling party had marginalized the Pentecostal church movement, particularly in Western Uganda, and so come 2011 people should place their votes elsewhere.
Pastor Lubega's sermon caused a furor in political circles in the district, which is traditionally known to support the NRM and President Yoweri Museveni. The Kabarole Resident District Commissioner, Kambarage Kakonge and the District Internal Security Officer, Musa Mukiibi, demanded that Lubega recant his statements immediately.
The pressure from state operatives, however only worked to fuel the fire.
Bishop Nassan Ibrahim Turyatemba of Grace Cathedral in Kasese and Daystar Cathedral in Mbarara has lent his voice to support Pastor Lubega. Turyatemba, who is currently on a pastoral tour of the United States, sent a strongly worded email to media houses in Uganda, accusing the government of siding with the three main religious denominations
