Francis Ojok, a devout Catholic from Gulu City, has penned a petition letter to Archbishop Paul Ssemwogerere of Kampala, urging the Catholic Church to abstain from officiating at former Opposition Leader Hon. Mathias Mpuuga’s upcoming thanksgiving ceremony.
In his letter dated June 10, 2024, Ojok expresses grave concerns about rampant corruption in Uganda and highlights Mpuuga’s alleged involvement in several scandals.
Ojok asserts that Catholic involvement in Mpuuga’s thanksgiving event would be perceived as condoning corruption, thereby compromising the Church’s ethical stance. He emphasizes the need for the Catholic Church to vocally denounce corruption, which he believes has severely undermined Uganda’s progress and development.
“The Catholic Church must take a stronger stand against the pervasive corruption that plagues our nation. Each day, new scandals involving vast sums of money meant for the betterment of Ugandans come to light,” Ojok writes passionately.
He further critiques Mpuuga’s alleged appropriation of public funds, citing an instance where the former Opposition Leader purportedly allocated himself 500 million Ugandan shillings. Ojok laments that such funds could have significantly improved public services, such as healthcare facilities in Masaka and Gulu, where essential services like X-rays and CT-Scans are reportedly lacking.
Ojok questions the silence of the Catholic Church on recent corruption revelations within government agencies, urging it to uphold its role as a moral beacon in society. He stresses that the Church’s involvement in Mpuuga’s thanksgiving would undermine its credibility and moral authority.
“If priests are to attend Mpuuga’s event, it should be to call for repentance and seek forgiveness from Ugandans,” Ojok insists.
The thanksgiving service, scheduled for June 21, 2024, at Kitovu Sports Arena in Masaka, has stirred controversy amidst these ethical concerns raised by Ojok and others within the Catholic community.
