Prayer for Parliament at 50

By Msgr J.W. Katende 

LORD, God, You who created all peoples and ordained them to flourish through self-governance, we begin by thanking you for the sovereign status of Uganda since 50 years ago.

We thank you for the legacy that the colonialists handed over at independence.

These include the Legislative, Judiciary and Executive arms of government. We thank you for the different regimes that have exhibited good governance as we also sincerely beg your pardon for those trying times of a failed state.

As we face the future, we wish to pray in a special way for the legislature, because of its enormous duty of setting laws and policies for good governance of the nation at all levels.

We pray for the lives of Members of Parliament and for their families. May they be honest and faithful to their spouses, children and domestic staff. 

Guide the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and all honorable members of Parliament, Lord, with the spirit of truth, righteousness and understanding.

Help them to realize their noble vocation in the formation of public policy, promotion of the common good, public happiness and the prevention of evil.

May they value and uphold the Ten Commandments which you have implanted as natural law in the heart of every human being. 

May they endeavour to uphold the Constitution as the basic law.

May they render due accountability to you and to the people of Uganda for each and every decision they make. 

May they always know their inadequacy, leading them to seek the will of the people, your own holy will and the divine strength to do it. 

May they conduct themselves honestly and ethically in all matters pertaining to private and public life. 

May they be generous and compassionate to the poor and needy. May they have courage to resist manipulation, bribery and pressure and to fear no one else, but you, Oh Lord. 

May they endeavour to uphold the sanctity of life, the environment, the institution of the family, divine order and morality in our nation. 

Lord, guide them to make this country a better place for our children and grand children. May they desire humility, meekness and willingness to serve in collaboration with the judiciary and the executive arms of government as well as with cultural, religious, and civil society organisations.

May they, Lord, seek to improve the living standards of all Ugandans for the realization of your kingdom here on earth. 

We make this prayer in the interest of the greater glory of your name and of our beloved country. 

Amen.

The writer is the Episcopal Vicar in charge of public relations, Kampala Diocese