Activist Gideon Nova Kwikiriza has criticized the postponement of a Catholic mass that had been scheduled for Monday to pray for detained opposition figure Kizza Besigye, warning that the move risks undermining the independence of religious institutions in Uganda.
Reports circulating in the country indicate the decision was taken following directives allegedly linked to President Yoweri Museveni.
The prayer service had drawn attention from believers and civil society groups who viewed it as a spiritual gathering rather than a political event.
However, its abrupt postponement has sparked debate over the role of the Church and whether state influence played a part.
Kwikiriza described the development as a troubling precedent in Uganda’s religious history. He argued that places of worship should remain sanctuaries where believers can gather freely, regardless of their political affiliations.
“It is deeply concerning if an Archbishop would appear to bow to pressure from the state to halt prayers,” he said, stressing that spiritual spaces must remain open and neutral.
He linked the controversy to the recent commemoration of Janani Luwum, whose legacy is widely associated with moral courage and resistance to state oppression.
According to the activist, honoring Luwum’s sacrifice requires defending the Church’s moral independence and its duty to speak truth to power.
The postponement has drawn mixed reactions among Ugandans, with some urging religious leaders to safeguard the Church from political entanglement, while others caution against turning worship services into platforms for political messaging.