Clergy insist: MPs car demands selfish
Jan 03, 2007
CHURCH leaders yesterday insisted that MPs’ demand for sh60m vehicles is an act of “self-centrednessâ€. The prelates explained that the cars given to them belong to the Church and not to them as individuals.
By Cyprian Musoke
and Fred Ouma
CHURCH leaders yesterday insisted that MPs’ demand for sh60m vehicles is an act of “self-centrednessâ€. The prelates explained that the cars given to them belong to the Church and not to them as individuals.
They also explained that cars given to ministers and judges belonged to the ministries and not individual officers.
A number of MPs on Tuesday attacked Church leaders for criticising them over their car demands.
They claimed that bishops were given free vehicles worth over sh100m, yet they did not undertake any development work.
Namirembe Diocese bishop Balagadde Ssekadde said although MPs needed cars, they should change the manner of demanding for the vehicles and also debate issues vital to the common man.
“Their method of rioting is the one we are saying is wrong – of refusing to debate any other matters if they are not given cars!
“They have many issues to discuss such as health, roads, human sacrifice and garbage. Why have we not heard them debate these? They should also consider matters affecting us.â€
The assistant bishop of All Saints Cathedral Nakasero, Zac Niringiye, maintained that although he drove an expensive car, it belonged to the diocese.
“I don’t own it as an individual. It remains an act of self-centredness and greed for MPs to openly ask for free cars with total disregard to urgent priorities like roads and power.
“It is a tragedy that shows how corruption in our society has reached unimaginable proportions.
“As leaders, while they deserve decent lives, they should not distress the public with their insatiable demands. Let them ask for constituency cars or loans,†Niringiye advised.
The clerics refuted MPs’ claims that they do not undertake any development work. They argued that the Church had a vital role of directing sustainable development.
The chaplain of St augustine Chapel, Makerere University, Fr. Lawrence Kanyike, said the Church had done a lot of development in the country.
“In terms of infrastructure, you can look at schools and hospitals and compare their standards with those built by the Government. The accusation that the Church does not undertake any development work is cheap and misplaced,†he stated.
The Rev. Godfrey Byaruhanga of the African evangelistic Enterprise said comparing what the Church did as compared to the MPs could not arise.
“There are not more than 10 bishops I know who have been given vehicles. Those who have received them were not expecting the cars. They were given by the President when he was able,†he said.
He gave an example of Busoga Diocese, where he said a bishop serves over 100,000 people as compared to an MP who represents less than 70,000 people.
“That clerics do not undertake any development work is confusion. In terms of education, 80% of schools in Uganda are Church-founded.
“Do MPs know the hospitals run by the Church in this country? What about orphan ministries, safe water projects and scholarships the Church supports?†byaruhanga asked.
and Fred Ouma
CHURCH leaders yesterday insisted that MPs’ demand for sh60m vehicles is an act of “self-centrednessâ€. The prelates explained that the cars given to them belong to the Church and not to them as individuals.
They also explained that cars given to ministers and judges belonged to the ministries and not individual officers.
A number of MPs on Tuesday attacked Church leaders for criticising them over their car demands.
They claimed that bishops were given free vehicles worth over sh100m, yet they did not undertake any development work.
Namirembe Diocese bishop Balagadde Ssekadde said although MPs needed cars, they should change the manner of demanding for the vehicles and also debate issues vital to the common man.
“Their method of rioting is the one we are saying is wrong – of refusing to debate any other matters if they are not given cars!
“They have many issues to discuss such as health, roads, human sacrifice and garbage. Why have we not heard them debate these? They should also consider matters affecting us.â€
The assistant bishop of All Saints Cathedral Nakasero, Zac Niringiye, maintained that although he drove an expensive car, it belonged to the diocese.
“I don’t own it as an individual. It remains an act of self-centredness and greed for MPs to openly ask for free cars with total disregard to urgent priorities like roads and power.
“It is a tragedy that shows how corruption in our society has reached unimaginable proportions.
“As leaders, while they deserve decent lives, they should not distress the public with their insatiable demands. Let them ask for constituency cars or loans,†Niringiye advised.
The clerics refuted MPs’ claims that they do not undertake any development work. They argued that the Church had a vital role of directing sustainable development.
The chaplain of St augustine Chapel, Makerere University, Fr. Lawrence Kanyike, said the Church had done a lot of development in the country.
“In terms of infrastructure, you can look at schools and hospitals and compare their standards with those built by the Government. The accusation that the Church does not undertake any development work is cheap and misplaced,†he stated.
The Rev. Godfrey Byaruhanga of the African evangelistic Enterprise said comparing what the Church did as compared to the MPs could not arise.
“There are not more than 10 bishops I know who have been given vehicles. Those who have received them were not expecting the cars. They were given by the President when he was able,†he said.
He gave an example of Busoga Diocese, where he said a bishop serves over 100,000 people as compared to an MP who represents less than 70,000 people.
“That clerics do not undertake any development work is confusion. In terms of education, 80% of schools in Uganda are Church-founded.
“Do MPs know the hospitals run by the Church in this country? What about orphan ministries, safe water projects and scholarships the Church supports?†byaruhanga asked.