SEMBABULE.
Police in Masaka ,Central Uganda are investigating allegations of adultery against one of the principal contenders in the race to replace outgoing West Buganda Bishop Henry Katumba- Tamale .
On February 1 , the Church of Uganda Provincial Secretariat confirmed the selection of two nominees vying for the coveted seat of Bishop of West Buganda Diocese.
Either Rev Canon Patrick Ssimbwa , the archdeacon of Sembabule Archdeaconry or Rev Gaster Nsereko , the archdeacon of Kakoma Archdeaconry in Rakai District will be chosen to succeed Bishop Tamale who will retire on March 28 after clocking the mandatory age of 65.
Names of the two nominees will be forwarded to the House of Bishops, which is expected to convene this Sunday, February 16 to choose a suitable successor to Bishop Tamale. However, according to police, the Diocese has since tasked them to help investigate allegations that Rev Canon Ssimbwa sired a child outside the wedlock, which may cause his disqualification from the race .
The investigations stems from a petition dated 20 January 2025, where a woman named Naume Namakula ,a resident of Lwemibu in Lwemiyaga Sub County ,Sembabule District claims that Rev Canon Ssimbwa had a child with her ,but later abandoned her . The child reportedly died in 2016 after the priest reportedly failed to take care of the mother.
According to a criminal investigations case file Sembabule GEF 04/2025 at Masaka Regional Criminal Investigations Department, this matter was brought to the attention of detectives by West Buganda Diocesan Nominations Committee.
Police are now working to establish the authenticity of the claims and the motive behind the petition’s timing. This publication has learnt that the detectives specifically want to recover the purported letter in its original form for inspection and subsequent examination at the Government Analytical Laboratory in the capital ,Kampala , obtain statement and specimen writing of the identified author of the said letter , establish the chain of movement of the questioned document ,obtain statement from Rev Canon Ssimbwa , establish from Namakula details of the alleged child ,for example names ,sex ,age and place of birth ,witness to the said birth ,death and burial among others .
They also want to establish the involvement of a Sembabule-based freelance Journalist Jonan Jjumba Bangirana who was investigating the matter and four other persons. According to police sources, the quintet is suspected to have circulated the questionable petition aimed at discrediting one of the nominated candidates for the bishop seat .
This publication has learnt that Jjumba’s co-accused regained their freedom after securing police on Saturday ,but the former remained behind bars at Sembabule Central Police Station .Jjumba ,who is believed to have vast knowledge in internal Church politics specially West Buganda Diocese and had earlier in mid-January been arrested ,but was released on police bond only to get rearrested on February 7 .
Despite these allegations, detectives say their preliminary investigations reveal that Namakula has denied ever having a relationship with Canon Ssimbwa or having had a child with him. According to detectives, the said woman has also denied having authored the purported letter.
But in his report dated February 5 seen by this publication , the Masaka Regional CID officer ,Mr Bosco Gume poke holes in the preliminary investigations and asked the detectives to do further inquiries .
“….a number of factual issues need to be proved in depth to establish the motive of bringing such a matter at a time when nominations are due to be held,” part of the report reads in part
He further said there was need to reach out to the said Namakula named and also probe the role and involvement of Jjumba in this matter .
“Since this is a preliminary report , a comprehensive report will be issued as and when need arises .” he adds
A source within the Nominations Committee has intimated to this publication that should claims of infidelity found to be true , Rev Canon Ssimbwa will definitely be disqualified .
“ The House of Bishops has the powers to go ahead and declare Rev Nsereko as the new bishop of West Buganda Diocese or direct the Nominations Committee to reconvene and select two other candidates from those previously shortlisted,” a source said
The issue of choosing Bishop Tamale’s successor has been contentious right from the start of the nomination process with some Christians accusing the prelate of supporting one of the contenders- an allegation the man of God has repeatedly denied . Some Christians on the other hand are also pushing to have a native Bishop , and if this sails through ,he will be the first since the diocese was carved out of Namirembe Diocese in 1960.
The initial selection process involved the scrutiny of eight candidates, including Rev Canon Patrick Ssimbwa and Rev Gaster Nsereko, Rev Canon Moses Kayimba, the diocesan secretary, Rev Samuel Matovu Mbogo, the head teacher of Sembabule Church of Uganda Secondary School, and Rev Can Fred Matovu, the diocesan treasurer, among others.
To become a bishop, a candidate must meet specific credentials, including having unrivaled integrity, being at least 45 years old, an ordained priest with 10 years of pastoral experience, and holding a bachelor’s degree in Theology or Divinity. With more controversies’ unfolding, it remains to be seen who will become Bishop Tamale’s successor .