Let’s all vote and accept the results
Feb 23, 2006
We want a leader that will think in terms of what they can do to serve the country. What do they see the people asking? They are asking for various forms of development to take place in this country.
We want a leader that will think in terms of what they can do to serve the country. What do they see the people asking? They are asking for various forms of development to take place in this country. There are problems of unemployment, poor infrastructure and war. If these are there, people are going to be satisfied. What do you think a lot of these young people are asking for? They are asking ‘can you give us a future?’
Can any of the candidates deliver on what people are asking?
I can say that since they (candidates) have all made it to this point, it means they would love to do it. We have seen President Museveni’s track record, we have yet to see Kizza Besigye’s, Ssebaana Kizito’s, Maria Obote’s and I think they can listen to the masses. What do the masses like? What do they need? Those questions have been demonstrated in many ways. For many of the people in the North, they are asking, “Can we go home?†For many of the people in the city here they are asking, “Can we get housing?†or “Can we get jobs?†or “Is our city developing at a certain point where we can also play our role?" or “Can you mobilise us to do anything?†I mean there are so many ideas in the city.
Religious affiliation of the candidates
All the four presidential candidates are Anglican but I don’t think that is really the issue. The issue is whether there is a Ugandan who can lead this country? I don’t care where they go to Church. But can they deliver to the masses what the masses are asking for? Church going is immaterial. The issue is whether they care? If the trust people are putting in them right now can help them know that the people are trusting them, that is the most important thing. Ugandans are looking for a good leader to lead them. They are not looking for a way to go to church.
Pastor Robert Kayanja’s prophecy
I don’t think this has put his credibility in balance A Prophet’s test of his prophecy is whether it happens or not. You don’t actually judge a prophet before it happens. When things happen or don’t happen, that is when you have a problem. So you will go to him and ask, ‘so what did you say?’ or ‘Why did you prophesy that?’ If it doesn’t happen you have to ask him, ‘why did you say so.’ Then he has to give you an answer as to why he said so. He may not even tell you why he said so because if he is a prophet. He is speaking what he believes what God has told him. So how do you challenge that? I mean do we even have a right to challenge Kayanja. He is speaking what he believes God has given him, so why do we challenge him? For speaking? If he is a prophet or he has a prophetic message, all he has to do is to deliver. But for a genuine prophesy, when it comes from the Lord you see when it happen.
Violence
Violence in elections is a response of the public to something new. There is too much expectation and if you study all those things one after another, it is people reacting to what is coming. And don’t forget that we are reacting in the face of a past which was violent. We know the past but don't know the future. Do you know the future? We are all basing our judgment on the past and so it is out of the past. People never had an opportunity to say, ‘I belong to a party’. People who are under 25 didn’t even know what it means to belong to a party.
Are we ready for change?
We are ready for change. But it takes time. When a baby is born, does he walk instantly? Change is never complete until it develops. So new things are coming. The multiparty system is now here. A new Parliament is going to be with parties. Now our people are going start working on it. It is going to be like people are beginning to know parties. The actual change takes time. To be a democrat takes time. It doesn’t just happen. So it is going to take us time for us to develop a democratic government .
My message to the candidates Think about peace and development of this nation. Don’t think about what you are going to get out of it. Peace and unity all at work.
My message to the voters
Voters should cast their votes and they should accept the results of the vote. Also we should all pray for peace.
The writer is the Archbishop of Church of Uganda
As told to Jude Etyang
Can any of the candidates deliver on what people are asking?
I can say that since they (candidates) have all made it to this point, it means they would love to do it. We have seen President Museveni’s track record, we have yet to see Kizza Besigye’s, Ssebaana Kizito’s, Maria Obote’s and I think they can listen to the masses. What do the masses like? What do they need? Those questions have been demonstrated in many ways. For many of the people in the North, they are asking, “Can we go home?†For many of the people in the city here they are asking, “Can we get housing?†or “Can we get jobs?†or “Is our city developing at a certain point where we can also play our role?" or “Can you mobilise us to do anything?†I mean there are so many ideas in the city.
Religious affiliation of the candidates
All the four presidential candidates are Anglican but I don’t think that is really the issue. The issue is whether there is a Ugandan who can lead this country? I don’t care where they go to Church. But can they deliver to the masses what the masses are asking for? Church going is immaterial. The issue is whether they care? If the trust people are putting in them right now can help them know that the people are trusting them, that is the most important thing. Ugandans are looking for a good leader to lead them. They are not looking for a way to go to church.
Pastor Robert Kayanja’s prophecy
I don’t think this has put his credibility in balance A Prophet’s test of his prophecy is whether it happens or not. You don’t actually judge a prophet before it happens. When things happen or don’t happen, that is when you have a problem. So you will go to him and ask, ‘so what did you say?’ or ‘Why did you prophesy that?’ If it doesn’t happen you have to ask him, ‘why did you say so.’ Then he has to give you an answer as to why he said so. He may not even tell you why he said so because if he is a prophet. He is speaking what he believes what God has told him. So how do you challenge that? I mean do we even have a right to challenge Kayanja. He is speaking what he believes God has given him, so why do we challenge him? For speaking? If he is a prophet or he has a prophetic message, all he has to do is to deliver. But for a genuine prophesy, when it comes from the Lord you see when it happen.
Violence
Violence in elections is a response of the public to something new. There is too much expectation and if you study all those things one after another, it is people reacting to what is coming. And don’t forget that we are reacting in the face of a past which was violent. We know the past but don't know the future. Do you know the future? We are all basing our judgment on the past and so it is out of the past. People never had an opportunity to say, ‘I belong to a party’. People who are under 25 didn’t even know what it means to belong to a party.
Are we ready for change?
We are ready for change. But it takes time. When a baby is born, does he walk instantly? Change is never complete until it develops. So new things are coming. The multiparty system is now here. A new Parliament is going to be with parties. Now our people are going start working on it. It is going to be like people are beginning to know parties. The actual change takes time. To be a democrat takes time. It doesn’t just happen. So it is going to take us time for us to develop a democratic government .
My message to the candidates Think about peace and development of this nation. Don’t think about what you are going to get out of it. Peace and unity all at work.
My message to the voters
Voters should cast their votes and they should accept the results of the vote. Also we should all pray for peace.
The writer is the Archbishop of Church of Uganda
As told to Jude Etyang