When the anomalies came to light last year, Bp Banja transferred Gitta to Kazo, to create space for due investigations to be made, leading to the current developments.
The Bishop of Namirembe Diocese Moses Banja has discontinued the freshly transferred Archdeacon of Kazo Archdeaconry Ven. John Gitta Kavuma for gross abuse of office including putting 20 acres of church land to personal commercial use.
Ven. Gitta is alleged to have used the land at Jjungo to plant coffee, eucalyptus trees, setting up a goat farm thereon and constructing a workers’ house, all without the permission of the diocese as prescribed by law.
Additionally, Gitta is faulted for making a personal decision to give a telephone company a go-ahead to erect a mast on land belonging to St. Mark’s Church Namate. He is said to have signed accompanying documents on behalf of the church patrons which runs counter to provisions authorising only patrons at the level of bishops, to execute such a deal.
When the anomalies came to light last year, Bp Banja transferred Gitta to Kazo, to create space for due investigations to be made, leading to the current developments.
In the discontinuation letter dated 27th June 2025 signed on behalf of Bp Banja by the diocesan Secretary Can. Henry Segawa, Gitta was replaced bya caretaker priest Rev. Can. David Mpagi who has been the diocesan education secretary, to assume duties as from 1st July 2025.
In a transfer necessitated by the findings last year, Can. Gitta and Ven, C an Kenneth Sewanyana swapped offices,where the latter was posted to Entebbe, and the former to Kao, where he has been working up to the time of his discontinuation.
However, Gitta has denied these claims as mere allegations calculated to tarnish his reputation. Defending his claim, he explained that without the church authorities’ knowledge, he personay salvaged land which had been occupied by squatters way back in 1926, and that under his efforts, the 17-acre land reverted back to the church.
He added that because he had used his personal resources procured under a bank loan to execute all the above, he decided to use the land commercially in an effort to recover his expenses,and that all documents available indicate that the land belongs to the church.
In the discontinuation letter dated 27th June 2025 signed on behalf of Bp. Banja by the diocesan Secretary Can. Henry Segawa, Gitta was replaced bya caretaker priest Rev. Can. David Mpagi who has been the diocesan education secretary, to assume duties as from 1st July 2025.
In a transfer necessitated by the findings last year, Can. Gitta and Ven, C an Kenneth Sewanyana swapped offices,where the latter was posted to Entebbe, and the former to Kazo, where he has been working up to the time of his discontinuation.
However, Gitta has denied these claims as mere allegations calculated to tarnish his reputation. Defending his claim, he explained that without the church authorities’ knowledge, he personally salvaged land which had been occupied by squatters way back in 1926, and that under his efforts, the 17-acre land reverted back to the church.
He added that because he had used his personal resources procured under a bank loan to execute all the above, he decided to use the land commercially in an effort to recover his expenses,and that all documents available indicate that the land belongs to the church.
On construction of the telephone mast at Namate church, Gitta explained that meetings preceding the step were held and that supporting records are available to this effect. Proceeds therefrom he added, are duly submitted to the Archdeaconry, the diocese and the province as stipulated by law.
On construction of the Archdeacon’s house, he said he followed laid out procedures to the dot, and lamented that there are individuals bent on destroying an image he claims to have built over many years.