The church cannot shut up – UCU Vice Chancellor says about Church and Politics

Uganda Christian University (UCU) on the 15th February hosted the commemorative Archbishop Janan Luwum public lecture at the university Nkoyoyo Hall under the theme “Should the church be involved in politics?”

The celebrations were organized by the department of Public Administration and Governance of UCU in partnership with the African Policy Centre, IFLS and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung to mark the 16th February, the national celebrations of ordained Janan Luwum that started at 2 pm.
The Archbishop was martyred in the regime of the late president Idi Amin Dada, after he spoke against the political tyranny at the time, making him one of the very few 21st century saints.

Speaking during the launch, the Vice Chancellor of UCU, Rev. Dr. John Ssenyonyi in his introductory comment said the church cannot be divorced from politics.

“The church is being told to shut up, but it is impossible for the church to shut up” he asserted.

The event was attended by retired Justice James Ogoola who delivered a very detailed paper during his key note address.

Speaking from a legal point of view, the Justice noted that the constitution of Uganda, highlights some of the human rights and that these rights do not place a restriction on the exercise of these rights by religious.

“The Church in politics” he said is a “an unhappy marriage or matrimony”.

He went on to question that if the church is allowed to speak about a whole lot of things including music, dance, literature, tourism, literature among others, and asks why there is a restriction on politics.

“All people have a duty to make the constitution triumph” he said. He added that it was the responsibility of the church to shine a light on the darkness of the world.

The pulpit, the synagogue, the temple and all such places are for preaching peace, for proclaiming stability of the state, espousing security of the country’s boarders, and demanding justice for the population

Taking a tougher position against religious leaders, Dr. Bwanika questions where the church was during the 2016 elections. He made a point that the church in Uganda today is known to cowardice when it comes to very critical issues of the state because they (members of the church) stand to benefit financially from the people involved in the issues that matter.

He commends the stance taken by religious leaders of the other African states such as Zambia and Congo who have spoken out against despots of their countries.

Adding his voice to whether the church should be involved, he said that “When the politicians were going to change the constitution, they consulted East, West, North and South, but their forgot to consult God”, whose voice the religious leaders represent.

Attending the event too, who members of the panel, were a long standing Ugandan presidential aspirant, Dr. Abed Bwanika, Rev. Dr. Stephen Mugona, Rtd. Bishop Dr. Edward Muhima, Dr. Livingstone Sewanyana of the Foundation for Human Rights, Mrs. Rhoda Kalema.