Rugunda preaches unity with opposition

By Francis Kagolo

PRIME Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda has called for cooperation between the ruling NRM stalwarts and their counterparts in the opposition to achieve success in certain social development projects.

According to Rugunda, political and other diversities can become assets for building the country instead of liabilities as they are usually construed.

He made the remarks at the dinner organized to crown off the inaugural memorial celebrations for former Anglican Archbishop Janan Luwum at the Kampala Sheraton Hotel on Friday.

The dinner also served to send off Dr. John Ssentamu, the Archbishop of York in UK, who has been in the country since he presided over Luwum’s memorial celebrations in Kitgum district on February 16.

Rugunda co-chaired the committee that organised the celebrations together with President Museveni’s critic and UPC president Dr. Olara Otunnu. Other co-chairs included senior presidential advisor and former premier Prof. Apollo Nsibambi, and Justice James Ogoola.

Commending Otunnu for the hard work he exhibited on the committee, Rugunda said “the success of this memorial celebration shows the need for unity to achieve success in all we do”.

He added, “We should use our diversities to generate greater momentum than anyone of us can generate individually.”

Luwum is a former archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and DRC, who was murdered by former president Idi Amin in 1977 after he opposed the regime's tyranny. Since then, Luwum has been regarded as a martyr for the Christian faith globally.

Rugunda pledged to work with the ministry of public service to implement President Museveni’s dirtective designating February 16 a public holiday in remembrance of the murder of Luwum.

He also applauded Ssentamu’s work in the UK, describing him as Uganda and Africa’s good ambassador to Europe.

“The Archbishop of York Dr. John Sentamu has made Uganda and Africa extremely proud. His elevation to that powerful office in the Anglican Church has made Dr. Ssentamu a powerful representative and ambassador for Uganda and Africa,” Rugunda said.

“For somebody from Masooli village in Kasangati, Gayaza Road to rise to the high echelons of that magnitude demonstrates what is possible and inspires many of our youngsters.”

He commended the Archbishop for being a consistent advocate for justice, democracy and equality around the world. He also launched a book about Janani Luwum authored by Dr. Otunnu.

Dr. Ssentamu recounted his last moments with Luwum when they met in December 1977 in Nairobi, barely two months before the latter was murdered by Amin.

“He (Luwum) told me that: ‘every day I sit in my office I don’t know what will happen tomorrow. I live one day at a time,” Ssentamu reminisced. He asked Ugandans to emulate Luwum in building unity and care for the underprivileged.

“When situations worsen, it is the responsibility of those who have freedom to fight for the oppressed,” Ssentamu said.

Canon Amos Magezi, the provincial secretary of the Church of Uganda, urged Christians to learn to love even their enemies as religion instructs so as to promote development.