UGANDA: Catholic Bishops release Pastoral Letter for 2016 General Elections
The Uganda
Episcopal Conference (UEC) has issued a guide inviting the clergy, religious
men and women, the lay faithful and all Ugandan citizens to vote with
discernment in the upcoming 2016 general elections in Uganda.
Episcopal Conference (UEC) has issued a guide inviting the clergy, religious
men and women, the lay faithful and all Ugandan citizens to vote with
discernment in the upcoming 2016 general elections in Uganda.
Calling on
all citizens “To build a world in which respect, dignity, equality, justice and
peace are our primary concerns”, the Bishops have listed some basic
principles from Catholic moral and social teachings to help voters analyze and
evaluate public policies and programs.
all citizens “To build a world in which respect, dignity, equality, justice and
peace are our primary concerns”, the Bishops have listed some basic
principles from Catholic moral and social teachings to help voters analyze and
evaluate public policies and programs.
The Pastoral
letter which was signed by the UEC Chairman and Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese,
Most Rev John Baptist Odama states, “In our previous letters a call for
Sustainable Constitutionalism and Rule of Law in Uganda (November, 2009) and
Consolidating Electoral Democracy in Uganda (June, 2010), we highlighted the
critical challenges regarding multiparty democracy in our country. In this one,
we pay more attention to the critical issues in the journey towards the 2016
elections; in particular, how citizens and various institutions concerned with
this process should conduct themselves during this period.”
letter which was signed by the UEC Chairman and Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese,
Most Rev John Baptist Odama states, “In our previous letters a call for
Sustainable Constitutionalism and Rule of Law in Uganda (November, 2009) and
Consolidating Electoral Democracy in Uganda (June, 2010), we highlighted the
critical challenges regarding multiparty democracy in our country. In this one,
we pay more attention to the critical issues in the journey towards the 2016
elections; in particular, how citizens and various institutions concerned with
this process should conduct themselves during this period.”
Reminding
them of their duty to vote, they further ask all citizens to think and reflect
on the issues and to recognize the good intentions of politicians. The letter
sets out four core principles from which a politics geared to the common good
should spring including reverence and humility, active citizenship, unity in
diversity as well as love and respect.
them of their duty to vote, they further ask all citizens to think and reflect
on the issues and to recognize the good intentions of politicians. The letter
sets out four core principles from which a politics geared to the common good
should spring including reverence and humility, active citizenship, unity in
diversity as well as love and respect.
“These
principles have strong basis in our own conscience, the scriptures, our
cultures, and the national constitution and other laws governing the conduct of
elections in Uganda. We encourage you to look at them objectively and prayerfully,”
the letter explains.
principles have strong basis in our own conscience, the scriptures, our
cultures, and the national constitution and other laws governing the conduct of
elections in Uganda. We encourage you to look at them objectively and prayerfully,”
the letter explains.
The bishops
stated that elections are an important aspect of democracy and point out that
it is a way of ensuring active participation of all citizens in affairs that
directly affect their temporal well-being and happiness. They called for
comprehensive electoral reforms electoral reforms to make the elections more
credible, free and fair.
stated that elections are an important aspect of democracy and point out that
it is a way of ensuring active participation of all citizens in affairs that
directly affect their temporal well-being and happiness. They called for
comprehensive electoral reforms electoral reforms to make the elections more
credible, free and fair.
Concluding
their letter, the bishops noted that
“our actions are more important than our opinions”, and that a general
election is not just about expressing an opinion but about contributing to an
action towards an objective.
their letter, the bishops noted that
“our actions are more important than our opinions”, and that a general
election is not just about expressing an opinion but about contributing to an
action towards an objective.
“We
reiterate the fact that elections come with great opportunities and challenges
for our country,” the bishops wrote, adding that “We, therefore encourage all
actors to work for peace and ensure the process widens the options for
democratic choices for our young nation. On our part we promise to journey with
you in prayer.”
reiterate the fact that elections come with great opportunities and challenges
for our country,” the bishops wrote, adding that “We, therefore encourage all
actors to work for peace and ensure the process widens the options for
democratic choices for our young nation. On our part we promise to journey with
you in prayer.”
By Jacinta Wangalwa Odongo; Media
Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference
Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference
