MBARARA – A pension storm is brewing in West Ankole Diocese after four retired priests issued a UGX100 million demand to the Diocese over what they claim are missing pension and revolving funds. The priests have also given the Diocese a 14-day ultimatum, threatening to drag it to court if their demands are not met.
The retirees are Rev. Francis Mutambi, Rev. Canon Jorry Buremu, Rev. Canon Baudy Mugisha and Rev. Canon Elieza Baryamwisaki. Through their lawyers, the priests claim millions of shillings contributed to a clergy pension scheme over the years can no longer be traced in the books of Jubilee SACCO Ltd.
According to the demand notice seen by this publication, the pension scheme was started around 1997 under the then Bishop of West Ankole Diocese, William Magambo, after concerns that retiring priests had little or nothing to sustain them during retirement.
The scheme reportedly required priests to save 10 percent of their monthly salaries, while another 10 percent of Christmas and Easter collections was allegedly retained for their retirement benefits.
The lawyers claim the collected money was initially advanced to priests at interest as a way of growing the pension fund. The demand notice further claims that in 1998, Rev. Mutambi, then the Diocesan Development Officer, secured a US$10,000 donation from the Mustard Seed Foundation in the United States to establish a credit scheme for diocesan priests.
The money, reportedly equivalent to about UGX50 million at the time, was allegedly injected into the credit scheme following resolutions by the Diocesan Council and Synod.
In 2004, the scheme was reportedly transformed into Jubilee SACCO Ltd, with the revolving fund, pension and gratuity allegedly recorded as non-current liabilities in the SACCO’s books. The retirees now claim that the said liabilities are missing from the SACCO’s current audited accounts, raising questions over the whereabouts and management of the funds.
Alarmed by the alleged disappearance, the priests, through their lawyers, demanded accountability from the Diocese over the management of the pension and revolving funds. The Diocese reportedly responded on March 9, 2026, denying the existence of a pension scheme and revolving fund linked to Jubilee SACCO.
According to the response cited in the demand notice, the Diocese, under the leadership of Bishop Johnson Twinomujuni, said the pensioners receive their retirement benefits directly from West Ankole Diocese under internal welfare and retirement arrangements.
The four priests, however, reportedly dispute this explanation, insisting that they have always understood their pension and revolving funds to be managed through the SACCO. Their lawyers have also questioned the alleged lack of formal registration of the pension scheme, arguing that this raises concerns about its sustainability and accountability to the clergy who contributed to it.
The retirees say the uncertainty surrounding the funds has caused them financial hardship, inconvenience, emotional distress and loss. They are demanding a full accountability of all money connected to the revolving fund and retirement benefits.
They are also demanding that the registered trustee of the Church of Uganda formally register the retirement benefits scheme. The Diocese has further been asked to pay the priests their monthly pensions and clear all alleged pension arrears.
On top of that, the retirees are demanding UGX100 million in damages and costs arising from the dispute. The lawyers have given the Diocese 14 days from receipt of the demand notice to comply with the demands. Failure to do so, they warn, will leave them with no option but to institute civil proceedings against the concerned parties. The dispute has now put the spotlight on the management, accountability and sustainability of retirement benefits for clergy within West Ankole Diocese.
Eeeh The diocese should be accountable
Oooooh my Lord,,,,I wonder