The government has suspended the registration of new members into the “Boona Bagigahare Nyekundire” poverty alleviation group in the Kigezi region. The decision follows complaints from the Catholic Church in Kabale Diocese.
The group is headed by Senior Presidential Advisor on Agriculture and Local People, Peace Rugambwa. The suspension was announced on Saturday by Parliament Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, following a reconciliation meeting with various stakeholders.
Government Suspends Registration to Address Disputes
Tayebwa met with Rugambwa, Kabale Diocese leaders, security officials, and NRM leaders. He explained that he acted on President Museveni’s directive to address the tensions between Rugambwa and the Catholic Church that had intensified on social media.
“I received a call from the President instructing me to meet with the Kabale Diocese team and Peace Rugambwa to resolve issues circulating on social media regarding the Catholic Church’s complaints,” Tayebwa said.
Tayebwa added that the suspension was necessary due to widespread misconceptions about the program. The exercise was mistakenly seen as a voter registration effort during the election period.
“Due to these misconceptions and a lack of stakeholder consultation, we decided to suspend Peace Rugambwa’s poverty alleviation registration program,” Tayebwa explained.
“Operations will remain suspended until after the elections to avoid further confusion,” he added.
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Tayebwa also praised the reconciliation between Rugambwa and the Church. He noted that Rugambwa had apologized, and the Church had forgiven her.
“I was encouraged by Peace Rugambwa’s apology and equally pleased by the Church’s gesture of forgiveness. This marks the beginning of a new chapter,” Tayebwa said.
Vicar General John Vianney Sunday confirmed that the Church had forgiven Rugambwa. He thanked President Museveni for intervening and emphasized that the Church supports government programs aimed at improving livelihoods.
Controversy Over Registration Process
The dispute started after Kabale Diocese issued a letter on December 31, 2025, warning Catholics against participating in the registration exercise. The Church described the effort as unverified and potentially illegal.
Rev. Fr. Christmas Philip Austen, Rector of Rushoroza Cathedral Parish, reported that the Diocese had received complaints about people moving through villages. Some claimed the group was targeting Catholic-majority areas, such as Kyanamira Sub-county in Ndorwa East Constituency.
“Ms. Rugambwa confirmed the exercise was meant to support people after the elections. However, no official communication was given to clarify its purpose or legality,” Fr. Austen explained.
Government Reaffirming Support for Museveni’s Campaign
Despite the suspension, Tayebwa emphasized the government’s continued support for President Museveni’s campaign. Rugambwa thanked the Church for its forgiveness and instructed all group leaders across the 12 districts to halt registration. He urged them to continue mobilizing support for Museveni ahead of the January 15 Presidential election.
The government’s efforts aim to prevent confusion during the election period and ensure a smooth electoral process.
