Archbishop defends church''s involvement in politics

By Juliet Lukwago

The Archbishop of Kampala, Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, has defended religious leaders’ involvement in civic affairs, saying their role is merely advisory.

“Those who think that we are going to keep quiet about the day-to-day affairs of the nation are mistaken. We only come in when we see that things are not right and it is absolutely necessary. We, as religious leaders, have a duty to accomplish by guiding and helping the people to understand their own affairs better,” Lwanga said.

He was on Sunday speaking during a holy mass to mark five years of St. Mbaaga-Tuzinde Catholic Parish in Kiwatule on the outskirts of Kampala.

He said religious leaders have a right to come out and talk to the people of God about issues affecting them in their daily life as they spiritually guide them.

The prelate blamed some people who are in the habit of character assassinating others for their selfish ends, urging them to stop the practice as it leads to hatred.

He advised Christians to champion the crusade of harmony and peace among the people wherever they are in order to enhance development in the Church and the nation.

He also blamed the people who talk ill of other people’s religions, saying the practice does not bring peace but instead widens differences among God’s people.

He cited the female artiste who sang Nsonyiwa Faaza whose words were aimed at despising the Catholic religion, which is abominable.

Lwanga hailed the parish priest, Fr. Sylvester Kityo and the people of Kiwatule for contributing toward the construction of the church.

The parish started as a sub-parish of Namugongo Uganda Martyrs Shrine in 1967. It is one of the 54 parishes that form Kampala Archdiocese.

Lwanga thanked the former Minister of Local Government, Jaberi Bidandi-Ssali, who, he said, during his tenure of office, helped the church to secure the land on which it stands and built a nursery.

EARLIER INTERVIEW WITH ARCHBISHOP