Tension continues to mount in the Diocese of Busoga following widespread social media claims that Rev. Katiko has been elected as the next Bishop — reports that the Church of Uganda has strongly refuted.
In an official statement released on Saturday, the Provincial Secretary of the Church of Uganda, Rev. Canon William Ongeng, dismissed the circulating information as false and misleading, calling on the public and media to ignore it.
“We want to make it absolutely clear that no election of a Bishop has taken place in Busoga Diocese. The reports being shared are completely false and should be treated with the utmost contempt they deserve,” said Rev. Canon Ongeng.
“The Church follows a prayerful, transparent, and structured process. When a Bishop is elected and confirmed, the announcement will come through the official channels of the Church of Uganda.”
The controversy comes shortly after Bishop Paul Samson Naiman Mukembo officially bid farewell to the Diocese, leaving a vacuum that has triggered increased speculation and anxiety among the faithful.
Sources indicate that petitions have been formally lodged against both Rev. Katiko and another unnamed candidate, raising serious concerns within the House of Bishops. If upheld, the petitions could result in both candidates being disqualified from nomination.
Amid the uncertainty, attention is quietly shifting to Rev. Grace Lubaale, who is being viewed by some Church members as a capable and unifying alternative to lead the Diocese forward.
The Church leadership has urged Christians in Busoga to remain calm, prayerful, and patient as the process continues.
“We understand the anxiety in the Diocese, but we appeal for unity and trust in the Church’s systems,” added Rev. Ongeng. “Our commitment is to uphold the integrity and values of our faith throughout this process.”
As the House of Bishops prepares to make its decision, the Diocese — and indeed the country — watches closely for the next chapter in the leadership of one of Uganda’s most prominent Anglican regio
