“We Have Been Violated”: Fr Musaala Decries Monday Mass Cancellation, Urges Faithful to Remain Hopeful

Winnie Byanyima and the families of incarcerated opposition leaders and supporters have been urged to remain hopeful that the Lord heard their prayers when they gathered at Lubaga Cathedral on Monday to pray for Col. Dr Kizza Besigye and other prisoners.

On Monday, 23rd February 2026, several people congregated at Lubaga Cathedral for a Mass organised by Byanyima and her family to pray for Besigye, who is sick and currently imprisoned. However, the Mass was unceremoniously cancelled. Besigye was arrested in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2024 and charged with treason and misprision of treason.

He is currently being held at Luzira Prison, and concerns about his health prompted his family to organise the special prayers at Lubaga. The Monday Mass had been scheduled to be led by the Archbishop of Kampala, His Grace Paul Ssemogerere. However, a few minutes before 2:00 pm, when the Mass was due to begin, the Cathedral Administrator, Fr. Achilles Mayanja, announced that it had been postponed until further notice.

Following the announcement, hundreds of people who had gathered outside the Cathedral, led by Winnie Byanyima, entered the church where she addressed the press. They later proceeded to Pope Paul Hotel, where they continued with a press conference. Some opinion leaders, including Miria Matembe, a former Minister of Ethics, blamed the Archbishop for the cancellation of the prayers.

Matembe noted that the Archbishop should not have feared the President. “What surprised me is that the archbishop feared. Last week, we were celebrating our hero and martyr archbishop Luwum, so my question is, where is our church? How can a whole archbishop, a whole leader of the church, fear to conduct prayers? This is very ridiculous,” said Matembe.

During Tuesday’s lunchtime Mass at the Cathedral, Fr. Anthony Musaala said the Church had been violated, but reminded the faithful that God knows their prayers even before they come to church.

He added that although religious leaders are often cautioned against engaging in political matters, what had happened suggested that the state had also crossed into religious space.

“I feel as though we’ve been violated. You know, they always say that we religious leaders should not be involved in politics, we should not cross over into that space, but it seems that this time they have crossed into our space, and I think all of us feel very bad about that. However, I believe that yesterday, even though there was no mass, there was still prayer, because Jesus says, even before you ask, I know what you want,” said Fr Musaala.

He insisted that even before the faithful went to the Cathedral, God already knew their intentions, and because they gathered with purpose, their prayers had already been heard.

“And it says, where two or three are gathered, I am present. How many people were here yesterday? Hundreds of people. God was already present. And of course, when we come to mass, we want to hear the Word of God, we want to hear the voice of God. I believe personally that yesterday, God spoke. God is speaking to Uganda, to the church, and to you. But what is he saying? Is this not a time for us to listen to what God is saying to our country, and to our church, and to us? Why has this happened during the season of Lent? You know, when Jesus was in the desert, He was tempted three times by the devil, and maybe we are being tested. Maybe we are in temptation. How are we going to react as Christians? I was just thinking last night that, you know, what would have Jesus done about this situation? I leave that with you,” he said.

He concluded by praying for peace and justice in Uganda, for the sick, especially Dr. Besigye, to be healed, and for all those who are afflicted to find rest in Christ.