By Special Correspondent

13^th Aug 2012:

Sworn enemies: Mugabe and Sentamu

“…I am asked occasionally why I have forgotten to wear one (dog collar) – my answer remains that this corrupt and oppressive regime has been allowed to carry on for too long.” the Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu told The Times Newspaper on Thursday, August 8. (See: “My dog collar stays off until Zimbabwe is free”)

It is quite astonishing to hear the Archbishop, a man with strong roots in Uganda – and Buganda in particular, make such a statement about Robert Mugabe’s tyranny when his own fellow Baganda are being harassed by Yoweri Museveni’s government.

How can Dr Sentamu, a man of God, justify his statement in The Times that “…we cannot allow Mr Mugabe off the hook” when there may be strong evidence to suggest that like his NRM-leaning brother “Pastor” Robert Kayanja, he wines and dines with a man like Museveni who has done the same, if not worse than Robert Mugabe?

Dr. Sentamu, a populist publicity-seeking Archbishop by default, cut up his dog collar in December 2007 during a live TV interview with celebrated BBC journalist Andrew Marr.  He said at the time that he had done it in protest at Robert Mugabe’s actions.

“…As an Anglican, this is what I wear to identify myself – that I am a clergyman.” Sentamu said.  Destroying his dog collar, Sentamu reasons, amounts to the loss of his identity – much in the same way that Mugabe took away the identity of Zimbabweans.

Here is how the comedy unfolded:  “…Do you know what Mugabe has done?  He has taken people’s identity and literally, if you don’t mind, cut it [dog collar] to pieces. So, as far as I am concerned, from now on, I am not going to wear a dog collar until Mugabe is gone.” Sentamu told journalist Andrew Marr amidst utter astonishment.

Surely, even as he staged his dramatic TV stunt, Archbishop Sentamu couldn’t have been unaware that in his native Uganda, innocent people were being clobbered and brutalised by the infamous “Kiboko Squad” – possibly with orders from Museveni’s generals – the very men he and his brother Kayanja have refused to condemn.

Even when Museveni’s government blocked Archbishop Sentamu’s King, His Majesty Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II from visiting Kayunga in 2009, Sentamu never uttered a word in condemnation – not publicly at least!  Many Baganda living in Diaspora wrote to him about the incident but he never responded.

He has maintained his undignified silence as Museveni continues to torment Ugandans.  Inevitably, there are now people out there may, quite justifiably, be inclined to think that Sentamu sees no fault in Museveni because of his young brother’s close links to Museveni’s NRM party.

Archbishop Sentamu has also accused Robert Mugabe of leading a corrupt and oppressive regime.  However, so far as could be discerned from reasonable research, there is no public record of Sentamu ever condemning Yoweri Museveni’s regime in Uganda – a regime which, like Mugabe’s, has reduced Ugandans to nothing less than beggars.

Archbishop Sentamu’s hypocrisy has now forced opinion leaders within Ugandan communities home and abroad to ask some serious questions:  Is a hypocrite like Dr. John Sentamu really fit to succeed Dr. Rowan Williams – a dignified man of unrivalled integrity who announced his retirement as Archbishop of Canterbury?

“…How can he come in public and condemn Mugabe?  Morally, Sentamu shouldn’t talk about Mugabe when his brother [Pastor Kayanja] is suspected to be doing dirty things, both for himself, and for Museveni.” said an elder who spoke to Uganda Correspondent on condition of anonymity.

Following a 2007 petition from Ugandans in the Diaspora to Dr. Sentamu, someone called Pauline Wilson replied on Januay 8, 2008 – presumably on Dr. Sentamu’s behalf, and said:

“…Thank you for your letter of 10 December 2007.  “I have lived in the UK for many years and was at the Coronation of Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi II.  On the question of the governance of President Yoweri Museveni, let alone making a pronouncement for Buganda, it may not be probative at this point in time.”

“…My concerns have been expressed in private to all concerned.  The matter of Zimbabwe is in a different league, with inflation at between seven and eight thousand percent, serious and widespread human rights abuses, and sickness and malnutrition widespread, to say nothing of the refugee problem.”

If these were indeed Dr. Sentamu’s words, then a proper interpretation of them can only lead to one conclusion:

That in Sentamu’s mind, unlike in Mugabe’s Zimbabwe, there are no serious and widespread human rights abuses in Uganda, there are no people dying of curable diseases, no widespread malnutrition, no people infested with jiggers, no internally displaced people’s camps, etc.

In Sentamu’s eyes, all the scandals involving his brother Robert Kayanja are no more than concocted stories.  In Sentamu’s eyes, Robert Mugabe is the only African dictator.

Can a narrow-minded man like the Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, ever be fit to lead the worldwide Anglican Communion?  On the evidence, it has to be an absolute no!  END.  Login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories mid-week for our updates

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