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2001-108

News Briefs

Diocesan council says 'defrock Ssenyonjo' 

     (ENS) A Kampala newspaper reports that Bishop Disani Christopher Ssenyonjo, 
chairman of Integrity-Uganda, is threatened with deposition by the Church of 
Uganda.

     According to a May 10 article in the government-run New Vision newspaper, 
members of the Namirembe Diocesan Council have proposed that Ssenyonjo be 
defrocked for supporting Integrity/Uganda. The council also said Ssenyonjo should 
no longer be referred to as a bishop, but agreed to refer the matter to the 
Provincial Assembly.

     The council also resolved that Ssenyonjo should not "preach in any church, 
lead any service, wed any couples, [or] carry on baptisms and confirmation in the 
diocese," according to the report. The archbishop of the Church of Uganda, 
Livingstone Nkoyoyo, recently banned Ssenyonjo from preaching in any congregation 
in the Church of Uganda. 

     The president of the local Mothers Union reportedly asked Namirembe bishop 
Samuel Ssekadde, who chaired the meeting, if there should be any sanctions 
against Ssenyonjo's wife as well, but the council resolved that Ssenyonjo was to retain 
her position as a full member of the Mothers Union "since there was no proof that she 
was involved in gay activities." 

     The council also resolved to start a "crusade" to counter what they called "gay 
activities" and that the diocese "should not have anything to do with people who have 
come out openly to declare that they are gay," according to the New Vision account.