Go slow on bio-safety law, churches warn

By Taddeo Bwambale

The Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC) has appealed to Government to consult widely before enacting the National Biotechnology Bill, 2012.

The Bill seeks to regulate the development and application of biotechnology, and control release of genetically modified organisms.

UJCC, a coalition of three religious faiths in Uganda, during a press briefing on Saturday, cautioned against hastening to pass the Bill without exhausting arguments effects of GMOs.

The UJCC chairperson and archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Stanley Ntagali said the clerics were consulting with experts to come up with an independent position on the matter.

“Some experts argue that GMOs are risky and may cause harm to our environment and the consumers. Government should consult as widely as possible on the Bill which may have far reaching implications if passed without precaution,” Ntagali said in a statement read by Rev Dr Sylvester Arinaitwe, the UJCC executive secretary stated.

UJCC comprises the Church of Uganda, The Roman Catholic Church and the Uganda Orthodox Church, which together constitute about 78% of Uganda’s population.

The clerics, in a joint Christmas message, urged Ugandans to shun a culture of lawlessness manifested through robbery, reckless driving and violence during the festive season.

Ntagali advised Christians to uphold the Bible teachings on marriage which include love, faithfulness, patience, kindness, perseverance and forgiveness.

He appealed to Government to strengthen the fight against corruption saying progress in fighting the vice is slow.

“The loss of huge amounts of public funds is depriving Ugandans of vital services and infrastructural development which are needed to propel us forward socially and economically,” he stated.

“So far, progress in the war against corruption is agonizingly slow in relation to the scale and magnitude of the corruption scandals we have recently witnessed in our public institutions.

We do fear that failure by the Government to tackle corruption decisively may lead to emergence of powerful mafia groups that will have the capacity of subverting our institutions and rendering democratic values enshrined in our constitution irrelevant,” he warned.

The clerics called for national dialogue ahead of the 2016 general elections in 2016 saying this will ensure harmony and peace.

“We need to focus on historical injustices and other grievances which have caused pain and polarization among some sections of the public,” Ntagali stated.

“We urge the Government and opposition political leaders to explore the idea of a national convention where all issues and grievances can be interrogated in the spirit of seeking national consensus which is vital in ensuring free and fair elections.”

Ntagali said the church wants elections of 2016 to be ‘different from previous elections that were characterised by harassment, intimidation, bribery and violence.’