By Moses Mulondo
THE Uganda Joint Christian Council has urged the Central Government and the Buganda Kingdom to reconcile.

The council comprises the Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox churches.

The churches are today holding a joint public Way of the Cross to mark Good Friday, the day Christians believe Jesus was crucified. Christians will converge in the city for the celebrations.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, the council secretary, the Rev. Dr. Silvester Arinaitwe Rwomukubwe, said: “We call upon the Central Government and the Buganda Kingdom to realise that both of them are key stakeholders in ensuring that Uganda is a peaceful nation. We believe dialogue and understanding is where the solution lies.”

In a statement read by Romukubye, the council said the challenges the nation is facing need Ugandans to forgive each other and unite as one people.

On the coming general elections, the churches called for measures to ensure peaceful free and fair elections.

“We urge Ugandans to shun electoral malpractice. There must be no bribery and intimidation. The youth are especially called upon not to get involved in instigating violence during the elections.”

They also called upon the Government to refrain from acts that could infringe on people’s political rights and freedom.

“Tolerance is a prerequisite for democratic governance. Let us unite and promote freedom of expression and assembly to ensure free and fair elections,” they appealed.

The churches observed that the rate of immorality is increasing and called on Ugandans to turn back to God.

“We are witnessing growing levels of moral decadence in our society manifested in cases of human and child murders, child neglect, and degradation of the environment.”

On corruption, they said: “The vice has caused poor quality education, lack of medicine in our hospitals and bad roads. Our prayer is Jesus who rose from the dead may come into our lives, take control and restore our sense of value and appreciation of the need for open and transparent governance, and good stewardship.”