Nandiinda vowed to mobilize Christians to shun Kitanga Catholic Church, should Fr. Batanyenda continue sabotaging the proposed amendment on the age limit. The RDC’s utterances have drawn angry reactions from faithfuls, saying they are aimed at witch hunting and intimidating their priest from speaking on their behalf.

They want Nandiinda to apologise to the priest and the parishoners. Fred Kyenserikora, the head of catechist, Kitanga parish, says there is no way Nandiinda can step in the area to mobilize Christians to shun praying from Kitanga church. He says the utterances of the RDC directed at Fr Batanyenda show that the RDC isn’t a good leader.

“The RDC doesn’t know what he is talking about. There is no way he will step in Kitagata parish. Fr Gaetano is always telling the truth that’s why the RDC is witch hunting and intimidating him. But he can’t intimidate him, we’re happy with the achievements of our parish priest. We want an apology”, said Kyenserikora.

Fideris Turyasingura, the parish secretary says as Christians they are ready to lynch Nandiinda should he dare step in the parish to decampaign their priest. He says as Christians they are behind the statements of their priest on the age limit debate.

“As the RDC, he earns his living from the Office of the President, so when he hears someone talking about the mistakes the president is doing, he has to say that. When he comes to Kitanga he will face the greatest challenge in his life because the people of Kitanga are in support of Fr Gaetano, and they are happy with what he is doing. He has to come and apologise to the Catholics of Kitanga parish because the statements he made that he will to come and mobilise them, starting from where? He has no base to start from, as a Ugandan he has to defend the Constitution”, said Turyasingura.

“Two, he was among the people who were debating it in the Constituency Assembly so he has to defend it [Constitution]. He is aware of what is happening and what was written and why they did arrive at such things like age limit”, he added.

Papius Tumwesigye, a concerned faithful from Bucundura Catholic center, says that there is no way Nandiinda can shut down Fr. Batanyenda from criticizing the constitutional amendment. He says the proposed amendment is only meant to benefit a few selfish and greedy leaders.

Tumwesigye wants Nandiinda to apologize for his statements, saying Fr. Batanyenda has played a big role as a voice for the voiceless.

“I know they have teargas and everything but it is impossible to fight Fr Gaetano because God is the one who sent him to Kitanga parish…How can Fr. Gaetano stop talking when his Christians are suffering with bad governance in Uganda. The RDC should come to Fr. Gaetano and ask for forgiveness”, Tumwesigye said.

Fr. Batanyenda says he will not stop advocating for good governance and better service delivery despite the intimidation from Nandiinda.
 
“Who is he telling that am expired? Is it my Bishop, is it my people that am serving? He’s dreaming. I know in trying to say this, he is trying to please his boss, President Museveni. He wants to be heard so that Museveni keeps him in this position of RDC where he gets free money, free car, almost free everything.

Who tells him that am expired, he threatened that he is coming here in Kitanga parish to tell my catechists and the Christians that they shouldn’t listen to me. If they don’t listen to me, does he want them to listen to him?…This is our work to be the voice of the voiceless. My role as a priest, am supposed to be a shepherd to safeguard his sheep from the wolves.  Now in Uganda there are so many wolves. These wolves don’t like to hear us saying anything”, said Fr. Batanyenda.

But Nandiinda says he will not apologize to Fr. Batanyenda. He accuses the priest of diverting from his role to preach the gospel in favor of tarnishing the image of President Museveni and the NRM government.

Recently, the Igara West MP, Raphael Magyezi presented a private member’s bill in parliament seeking the scrapping of article 102 (b) of the Constitution, which caps the president’s age at 75 years.
 
The move is seen as an attempt by the ruling National Resistance Movement party legislators to pave way for president, Museveni to seek re-election in 2021 when clocks his retirement age. Â