The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Fellowship of Born-Again Pentecostal Churches of Uganda (NFBPCU) to preserve human rights by regulating activities of Born-Again churches in Uganda.

The MOU is said to focus on eliminating human rights violation activities by Born-Again churches in Uganda.

Addressing journalists during the signing of the MOU on Monday, UHRC chairperson Mariam Wangadya was confident that the Born-Again Church will effectively spread the message of the importance of human rights because of the many outlets it has connected to the people across the country.

“Human rights principles are deeply embedded in the Christian faith which recognises the value of all human life as coming from God and which calls upon all believers to take care of the rights of the lowly and defenceless,” Wangadya said.

Wangadya also informed that the 25th annual report on religious freedoms intended to highlight the good work and the concerns of the born-again churches.

As a result, Wangadya believes that it is important to put in place frameworks that protect people from exploitation.

“I wish to clarify that our intention was not to recommend that religious freedoms be curtailed as this is one of the rights enshrined in our constitution,” she added.

Warning to violators

NFBPCU information minister Bishop Richard Magongo said the MOU comes as a warning to members of the Born-Again Church that have been violating human rights. According to him, the religious body now has a strong support system from the UHRC to regulate violation activities in the Born-Again churches.

“Our members, we are requesting you to abide by our rules and regulations. In case you see any pastor misbehaving somewhere, please point that out. So, if you identify a friend who keeps messing around, report to us, so that we can work it out together and find out the wrong elements,” Magongo said.

Magongo also added that the MOU has come at a time when the UHRC report had to address religious freedoms which the Born-Again fellowship body responded to with the content in the report.

To him, the MOU informs the country that Born-Again churches are organised, structured and have a self-regulated mechanism.

“It was the first time a chapter had been written about religious human rights freedoms. So, we had to come in and present a side that human rights need to know about. This will improve self-regulation in our churches,” he added.

Building the body of Christ

On his part, Bishop Moses Odongo, the general overseer of Born-Again churches in Uganda stated that UHRC deeply agrees in building the body of Christ in Uganda.

Mariam Fauzat Wangadya, Chairperson of Uganda Human Rights Commission interacting with Bishop Moses Odongo, general overseer of the National Fellowship of Born-Again Pentecostal Churches in Uganda during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) and National Fellowship Of Born-Again Pentecostal Churches in Uganda at UHRC headquarters in Kampala on 23rd October 2023. (Photo by Godiver Asege)

Therefore, Odongo advised all Born-Again churches to be vigilant with security amid terrorism threats targeting churches.

“We also want to use this opportunity to create awareness that in this terrorism aspect where many churches have been targeted, we want to inform you to be security conscious, check everybody as they come in and also as we sign this MOU, we create awareness that we are disciplined people, we do not want any church to be listed among human rights violators,” Odongo affirmed.

About the MOU

The MOU is focused on amplifying the voices of its membership and supporting the effective growth and development of the Pentecostal Movement through networking capacity building and enabling strategic partnerships.

It is expected to continue for five years from the date of signature but may be extended in writing upon mutual written agreement between both parties.

However, the parties shall maintain their own separate and unique mandates and accounting structures while respecting each other's confidentiality policies.