Archbishop Lwanga joins clergymen in condemning bad governance

The Archbishop of the Kampala Catholic Archdiocese Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga has joined other men of the collar in condemning bad politics and governance.

Dr Lwanga, who was addressing a New Year congregation at Lubaga Cathedral, also urged Ugandans to resist the two vices, which he said, would cause disunity and cripple development.

Previously, other clerics including the Catholic Bishop of Masaka John Baptist Kaggwa, the head of the Orthodox Church Metropolitan, Jonah Lwanga and the Mufti Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubajje have criticized among others the recent removal of the 75-year presidential age limit, arguing that it was bound to return the country to turmoil.

“Let us resist bad politics and promote national unity because we are all interested in Uganda and also to build a strong future for this country,” Dr. Lwanga said.

In a veiled interpretation, many Ugandans said the Archbishop’s sermon was a response to Museveni’s New Year message, in which he attacked religious leaders.

“Some of our religious people are so full of arrogance. They talk most authoritatively on all and everything even when they have not bothered to find out the truth,” Museveni, who last week assented to the removal of the age limit clause, said.

But Archbishop Lwanga said many Ugandans including President Yoweri Museveni had made similar calls. “He (Museveni) commanded people to resist bad politics. He said we should resist bad politics, and I think he was right there,” the Prelate observed.

He also cited Article 29 of the Constitution of Uganda, and emphasised that religious leaders have a right to comment on political matters. The Article stipulates the protection of freedom of conscience, freedom of expression and freedom of movement, and Dr. Lwanga’s comments come in the wake of expunging Article 102 (b) of the 1995 Constitution, which caps the presidential age limit at 75 years.

“This means, that every citizen has a right to freedom of speech and expression, freedom of thoughts. All of us should therefore be aware that the life of our nation is not a responsibility of a few individuals alone but a common social responsibility of all citizens of this country. I therefore appeal to all concerned especially politicians or even journalists, please read and understand the Constitution of Uganda before making abusive utterances on innocent people – be it religious leaders, politicians or others. That Constitution is for all us without any category of people,” he said.

The controversial age limit removal bill was passed by the Parliament and signed into law by Museveni on December 27.