Nsibambi heir row: a tale of religion-cultural chauvinism
Jun 10, 2019
The Law ought to generally reflect the principles and will of God; and reasoning that isn’t biased or influenced by primitive, selfish and crude cultural tendencies.
By Patrick Katagata
Coincidentally, just a few days prior to Premier Apollo Nsibambi's demise, I had had an argument with my father regarding family issues.
These issues were threatening to bring me into a conflict between him and particularly one of my sisters, who is daddy's, acclaimed darling!
I am the firstborn Son (and only one) to my parents standing with three sisters. Ideally, culture would dictate that should my father die before me, I would automatically become his heir even if he perhaps preferred to bequeath his inheritance to any of his daughters!
My sisters and I are all adults and married. In the aforementioned argument, my father had ‘conspired' with my sister to do certain things deemed injurious to our family's coherence.
We talked tough about how well our family matters should be handled without causing any conflict and I frankly put it to him that should he desire to have his daughter as his heir, he shouldn't be compelled by culture against his wish because I am not particularly a cultural person!
Religio-cultural inconsistencies have existed since time immemorial. But without delving much into these inconsistencies, it's worthwhile noting that the cause thereof consists in the selfish and sometimes crude nature of culture and religion, in the quest of what takes precedence!
And where such conflict exists, the Law and true Christianity not religion (especially now for the Nsibambi family) come in to rest any contestations and ensure social order.
The Law ought to generally reflect the principles and will of God; and reasoning that isn't biased or influenced by primitive, selfish and crude cultural tendencies.
The Law is also fairly universal ~cutting across most cultures and religions in a given society. But Christianity ~Christ-focused behaviour surpasses them all!
In fact, one of the reasons Jesus came on earth was to defuse and/or reconcile the culture, religion and the law not to put them asunder but to harmonize them for mankind's peaceful co-existence and for God's glory to manifest through the practice of true Christianity! So, whenever such conflicts arise, ponder, "What would Jesus do?"
Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5:17 that, "Do not think that I have not come to abolish the Law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to abolish them but to fulfil them."
The Law of God handed down through Moses and the Prophets had become vulgarized by Jewish culture, religiosity and the Pharisees' legalistic tendencies. Jesus came to redeem mankind from the excesses thereof.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
He added in 2Corinthians 5:17 that, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature." And 1John 5:4 crowned it that, "For anyone born of God overcomes the world …"
Prof. Nsibambi wasn't only a man of coveted educational, family grooming, serene and refined mind but he was also a confessed Born Again Christian believer. By faith, he transcended culture and overcame the world!
Before anyone raise issues repugnant with his will, they should bear these in mind. Choosing his daughter for heir biblically rhymes with by Numbers 27:8-9; and is by
The Succession Act etc, legally binding! Dishonouring the fallen venerable family man, educationist and legislator, therefore, appear obnoxiously unforgivable! After all, didn't Queen Elizabeth II inherit her father's throne, King George VI at only 25 years, reigning efficiently since 1952 to-date?!
The writer is a transformational leadership advocate from Buhweju District.