Did Deputy Speaker Tayebwa Use Government Money To Build Shs 2.7Billion Church? Details Emerge On How He Got Shs 1.7 Billions In Just 30 Minutes

Ahead of the thanksgiving ceremony for his father Daudi Bangirana, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa faced criticism with some questioning the source of funds for the mega church construction. 

But the event provided an opportunity for him to explain to attendees how he secured the funding.First, Deputy Speaker Tayebwa, who is also the MP for Ruhinda North, revealed that the mega St Karoli Lwanga Kigarama Catholic Parish in Bitereko would require a whopping Shs2.7bn by the time it gets fully completed.

Tayebwa also explained that the ‘launch’ had been rushed to celebrate the life of his father Bangirana, now 80 years old, in a thanksgiving ceremony attended by Uganda’s business sector and parliamentary dignitaries.

He assured Christians that they should not worry about funding for the church’s completion, adding that there was no need for fundraising functions since the required money was already available.

Thomas Tayebwa clarified that he didn’t use government funds to construct the mega church, contrary to some claims. So, how did he secure the Shs2.7bn needed to build St Karoli Lwanga Kigarama Catholic Parish, a standout in Mitooma and beyond?

The youthful MP disclosed that most of the funds came from his friends in the business community. Notably, some attending tycoons aren’t Christians, demonstrating that friendship supersedes religious affiliations.

To address skeptics, Tayebwa revealed that a meeting in Munyonyo, attended by about 10 wealthy businessmen and politicians, raised Shs1.7bn in just 30 minutes, showcasing the generosity of his supporters.

“[The entire church construction work] will cost us Shs2.7bn. And I heard some people say, ‘you get government money, you build such a church.’ Just in less than one hour, when they [the deputy speaker’s friends from the business community] passed home, these people gave me Shs1.7bn,” he revealed.

“We are completing it. Don’t see [that there are] no glasses, and you say ‘these people are in fundraisings.’ We have the resources to complete it. Even tomorrow, the contractors are continuing, but we prematurely did this because we had to celebrate Mzee.”

The issue of politicians’ wealth sources remains a pressing concern as Ugandans, particularly the youth, intensify their anti-corruption efforts, calling for Speaker Anita Among’s resignation amid allegations.

Previously, President Yoweri Museveni questioned Speaker Among’s funding for a teaching hospital and other projects in Bukedea. Speaker Among has also shared her challenging upbringing in the past.

Meanwhile, at the thanksgiving mass in Mitooma, Speaker Among emphasized her intention to serve only one term and hand over power to Thomas Tayebwa, dispelling concerns of overstaying.

The grand St Karoli Lwanga Kigarama Catholic Parish in Bitereko, Ruhinda Constituency, hosted a high-profile guest list, including ministers, MPs, former prime ministers, and prominent Kampala-based business leaders.