The Right Reverend Calistus Rubaramira, Bishop of Kabale Diocese, has suspended Father Ignatius Arinaitwe over alleged financial impropriety and dishonesty.
Fr. Arinaitwe, who serves in the administration department at the diocesan headquarters, is also the founder and executive director of Good Samaritan Ministries for Batwa Action (GSMBA), a community-based organisation advocating for the rights of marginalised groups, particularly the Batwa (Pygmies).
In a letter dated November 14, 2024, Bishop Rubaramira outlined the allegations against Fr. Arinaitwe and cited the relevant canons of church law to justify the suspension.
The letter explicitly prohibits Fr. Arinaitwe from performing any priestly duties within or outside Kabale Diocese.
The letter states:
“I regret to inform you that I have suspended the above-mentioned priest in reference to canons ranging from financial impropriety and dishonesty. Fr. Ignatius Arinaitwe is prohibited from practicing priestly ministry both in this Diocese of Kabale and in other dioceses within and outside Uganda. I do request your kind prayers for this priest, that he may seriously reflect on his priestly commitment and the grave consequences of his actions.”
The letter was copied to His Excellency Archbishop Luigi Bianco, the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda.
Speaking to our reporter, Monsignor John Vianney Sunday, the Vicar General of Kabale Diocese, confirmed the authenticity of the letter but urged for discretion when reporting the matter, emphasising the need to handle the issue with sensitivity.
While the letter does not detail the specific allegations, sources within the diocese revealed that Fr. Arinaitwe has been under scrutiny for over two years. He is accused of leveraging his clerical position to secure loans from businessmen and moneylenders in Mutorere Deanery (Kisoro), Makiro Deanery (Kanungu), and Kabale, where he previously served.
Allegedly, Fr. Arinaitwe failed to repay these loans, prompting frustrated creditors to seek redress from the Bishop’s office.
Efforts to contact Fr. Arinaitwe for a comment were unsuccessful, as his mobile phones were switched off at the time of publication.
The suspension has sparked discussions within the diocese, with some faithful expressing shock and disappointment over the allegations, while others have called for patience as the matter is resolved.
Bishop Rubaramira has urged prayers for Fr. Arinaitwe and the diocese during this challenging time.
