UGANDA: Inter-Religious Council of Uganda calls on leaders to refrain from the path of political partisanship
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| The Acting Chairperson of Inter-Religious Council of Uganda, Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali of Aglican Church of Uganda (left) and Sheikh Hatib Mukuluwakita addressing members of the press |
While
individual citizens are free to engage fully in partisan politics, the Acting Chairperson
of the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali has urged
all the religious leaders in the country to remain neutral and non-partisan ahead
of the 2016 general elections due November in Uganda.
individual citizens are free to engage fully in partisan politics, the Acting Chairperson
of the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali has urged
all the religious leaders in the country to remain neutral and non-partisan ahead
of the 2016 general elections due November in Uganda.
Ntagali,
who is also the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda (Anglican), made the call at
a press conference for the IRCU that was held in Kampala on July 2. He outlined
the resolutions of the role of the religious leaders in the forth-coming elections
that was resolved in the meeting of the IRCU senior religious leaders on June
25, 2015.
who is also the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda (Anglican), made the call at
a press conference for the IRCU that was held in Kampala on July 2. He outlined
the resolutions of the role of the religious leaders in the forth-coming elections
that was resolved in the meeting of the IRCU senior religious leaders on June
25, 2015.
“Expressions
of preference for a political party and of direct or indirect support for or in
opposition to specific candidates or political parties are not permissible,” he
said. “This is the only way out to avoid creating a wedge between our followers
or undermining our impartiality and independence.”
of preference for a political party and of direct or indirect support for or in
opposition to specific candidates or political parties are not permissible,” he
said. “This is the only way out to avoid creating a wedge between our followers
or undermining our impartiality and independence.”
The IRCU member faith-bodies including
the Roman Catholic Church, Church of Uganda, Uganda Orthodox Church, Seventh
Day Adventist, Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, Born Again Faith and the National
Alliance of Pentecostal and Evangelical Churches met in June to discuss about
peace and stability.
the Roman Catholic Church, Church of Uganda, Uganda Orthodox Church, Seventh
Day Adventist, Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, Born Again Faith and the National
Alliance of Pentecostal and Evangelical Churches met in June to discuss about
peace and stability.
“It was from this meeting that we
came up with the resolutions on our role during and after the elections, to
ensure peace and stability in our country,” Archbishop Ntagali explained.
came up with the resolutions on our role during and after the elections, to
ensure peace and stability in our country,” Archbishop Ntagali explained.
The resolutions also urges religious
leaders to limit or suspend politically motivated fundraising activities in the
places of worship during the election season, calls on citizen to exercise
their civic rights, encourages internal democracy within and among political
parties, appeals to the youth to desist from being used as instruments of
polarized politic and urges government as well as parliament to expedite
constitutional and electoral reforms in the country among others things.
leaders to limit or suspend politically motivated fundraising activities in the
places of worship during the election season, calls on citizen to exercise
their civic rights, encourages internal democracy within and among political
parties, appeals to the youth to desist from being used as instruments of
polarized politic and urges government as well as parliament to expedite
constitutional and electoral reforms in the country among others things.
Meanwhile, one of the top Sheikhs
in Uganda, Hatib Mukuluwakita, also a member of the IRCU condemned the
mysterious murder of their Muslim cleric, Sheikh Ibrahim Hassan Kirya, which occurred
on the night of June 30 and other sheikhs who have lost their lives in a series
of unexplained killings recently. He urged the public to remain calm as the
police investigate these killings.
in Uganda, Hatib Mukuluwakita, also a member of the IRCU condemned the
mysterious murder of their Muslim cleric, Sheikh Ibrahim Hassan Kirya, which occurred
on the night of June 30 and other sheikhs who have lost their lives in a series
of unexplained killings recently. He urged the public to remain calm as the
police investigate these killings.
By
Jacinta W. Odongo, Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference
Jacinta W. Odongo, Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference
