Two followers of the Catholic Church are threatening to use Airtel Uganda over a bill board they claim infringes on their freedom of worship. Today, Albert Kakooza and Robert Mujuzzi petitioned high court to grant them permission to sue Airtel for the offensive advert on behalf of the 14 million Catholics in the country.
The disputed bill board is located along Rubaga Road in Kampala. It was erected there between November 2010 and February 2011. Kakooza and Mujuzi say that the inscription on the billboard Airtel: Clearer than the Rubaga Bell” damagingly referred to venerable Rubaga Cathedral and ancient Church bells.
Through their lawyer, Denis Sembuya the duo claim that Catholics were injured by commissioning of a sacrilegious and offensive message emitted through a billboard in violation of the constitution concerning inalienable religious rights and freedoms.
They argue that the words Airtel: Clearer than the Rubaga Bell” were widely understood to mean that the owners, managers, staff, products and services of Airtel were superior to the venerable Rubaga Cathedral.
Kakooza and Mujuzzi intend to sue saying that the selfish commercial goals of maximizing corporate visibility, publicity and brand mileage intentionally targeted Rubaga Cathedral by demeaning and trivializing the significance the church.
In Roman Catholicism church bells hold a sacred and unique place in religious ceremonies. They are symbols of paradise, the voice of God and a constant reminder of the righteous way.
The famous Rubaga Cathedral Church bells customarily serve to call the faithful to pray by announcing the hour of church services. Deputy registrar of High Court, Isaac Muswata has set Friday as the date he will deliver a ruling on whether to grant Kakooza and Mujuzzi permission to sue Airtel on behalf the Roman Catholics in Uganda.
