Clergy wants electoral reforms deferred

Aug 18, 2015

THE clergy under their umbrella body, the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda want the recently passed constitutional and electoral reforms to be stayed until after the 2016 elections

By Innocent Anguyo

 

THE clergy under their umbrella body, the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) want the recently passed constitutional and electoral reforms to be stayed until after the 2016 elections.

 

The constitutional and electoral reforms passed by Parliament last week only await assenting of the President for them to come into force.

 

Speaking at Hotel Africana in Kampala on Tuesday, Msgr. Charles Kasibante, the chairperson of IRCU board took a swipe at Parliament, saying the reforms were “hurriedly done.”

 

“As faith leaders, we take note of the acrimony in the passing of the constitutional and electoral reforms by Parliament last week. This important process was not given the time it deserves to build consensus across the divide within the country,” said Kasibante.

 

“It is our considered view that peace and stability are buttressed by consensual negotiation and compromise over contentious issues in a win-win spirit, where even the interests of the minority are accommodated.”

 

Kasibante who is also the Vicar General of Kampala Archdiocese noted that since the “key stakeholders could hardly build confidence and trust” in the hurried reforms, the process should be redone by the next parliament.

 

IRCU recommends that the new Government formed shortly after the 2016 general elections should appoint a constitutional review commission to undertake the reform process.

 

Church of Uganda Archbishop Stanley Ntagali noted that the process of making constitutional and electoral reforms should have begun earlier than it did, if national consensus was to be struck.

 

Pr. Dr. John Kakembo, the chairperson for IRCU elders’ forum noted that, as citizens, the clergy had a constitutional right to give opinion on legislations, especially those with a potential to impinge on the rights and societal values such as dignity, equality, justice, peace and unity.

 

Joshua Kitakule, the secretary general of IRCU told the clergy to refrain from all forms of partisan politics to preserve the image of impartiality of prayer houses.

 

“You (clergy) should concentrate your energies and prayer only to those activities that enhance peace, stability and unity of Uganda,” said Kitakule.

 

Ntagali however sneered at criticism of clergy for accepting expensive gifts such as cars from the Government, saying such items were like any other offertory that would remain properties of the religious institution employing the recipient cleric.

 

Deputy Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Khatwib Mukuluwakika advised the clergy not thwart their children’s political ambitions in the name of impartiality, on grounds that “the calling of children may be different from that of their parents.”

 

These remarks were made at yesterday’s launch of IRCU’s peace and stability forum for central region, a body meant ensure tranquility especially during the election period.

 

Bringing together different religious institutions to address issues of common interest, IRCU is affiliated to the World Council of Religions for Peace and the African Council of Religious Leaders.

 

IRCU members include-Catholic Church in Uganda, Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, Church of Uganda, Uganda Orthodox Church, Seventh Day Adventist Church Uganda Union and other religious organizations notably, the independent Pentecostal and Evangelical churches.

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