Former General David Sejusa has defended the decision to postpone Monday’s mass at Rubaga Cathedral, which was intended to pray for former presidential candidate Kizza Besigye social media statement, Sejusa urged Ugandans to refrain from criticizing Archbishop Paul Ssemwogerere, emphasizing that the postponement followed a transparent conversation with President Yoweri Museveni.
The Archbishop reportedly relayed the discussion to church leaders, who then informed the public.
Sejusa highlighted that intelligence reports may have flagged the prayers as a potential political mobilisation disguised as a religious gathering.
He compared the scenario to past confrontations in Kampala, stressing the importance of cautious decision-making.
“Serious states don’t ignore intelligence, nor do they outright ban religious events. A balanced approach is to postpone while verifying the information,” Sejusa wrote.
He defended the middle-ground strategy, saying it allowed authorities to assess the accuracy of the intelligence without disrespecting the church.
Sejusa argued that a prudent approach ensured that religious activities were not inadvertently exploited for political purposes.
The former general added that if the intelligence proves unfounded, the mass would proceed as planned.
He framed the interaction between the President and the Archbishop as an example of accountability and measured statecraft, rather than political interference.
The postponement sparked mixed reactions online, with some criticizing church leaders while others supported the decision as a precautionary measure.
Sejusa’s comments are likely to fuel ongoing debates on the intersection of politics, religion, and public gatherings in Uganda.