Church leaders bemoan culture of violence

By Moses Walubiri & Alfred Wandera

CHURCH leaders under their umbrella body – Joint Christian Council (JCC) – have decried the absence of mechanisms to peacefully resolve conflicts saying it's fanning the embers of a violent culture.

During ecumenical prayers held earlier on Friday at Nakivubo Stadium to mark the public way of the cross, the Archbishop of Kampala Dioceses in the Roman Catholic Church, Dr. Cyprian Lwanga called for establishment of such mechanisms.

"This is a terrible situation. I was watching news on TV and I saw a Makerere University student saying that he was demonstrating because that is the language government understands," Lwanga said at prayers graced by the top echelon of prelates from different Christian denominations.

Lwanga said there is need to make parliament and courts accessible so that people with grievances can get remedy.

In his message on behalf of JCC, Lwanga highlighted a host of challenges facing Uganda, ranging from widening gap between the rich and the poor, corruption and growing sense of insecurity marked by a spate of high profile murders.

In order to support global efforts aimed at eliminating proliferation of small arms that end up fanning crimes like robberies and murders, Lwanga implored government to ratify the Arms Trade Treaty.

The Arms Trade Treaty was signed by 65 countries in December last year. 

Anglican Archbishop, Stanley Ntagali exhorted Christians to remain peaceful and united.

Held under the theme derived from Ephesians 4:3: "Make every effort to preserve the unity of the spirit through this bond of peace," the ecumenical prayers were graced by a host of luminaries including Dr. Olara Otunnu and Dr. Paul Ssemwogerere.