The Catholic Church archbishop Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga has described the church as an institution of direction that guides all people regardless of social status.
Speaking while delivering his condolence message during a national service for the late archbishop of the church of Uganda Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo at the Anglican martyrs shrine in Namugongo, Lwanga tasked government not to look at religious leaders as opponents or enemies.
Dr Lwanga said religious leaders have a duty to guide on matters of governance and as such should not be looked at as fighting the government vowing to continue acting as the conscience of the state.
He also adds that religious leaders have no intentions of joining politics and therefore can never be silent as governments or individuals messing up.
It should be noted that this has come at a time government has been increasingly attacked religious leaders for talking on political especially the Age limit bill.
Rugunda Vs Church leaders
Last year in November, Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda called upon church leaders to stay away from the controversial age limit bill debate.
Speaking during the age limit consultative meeting in Kigezi region, Rugunda asked to the men of God to go slow sighting that quick decisions and judgments may end up putting church leaders and followers at cross roads thus failing the word of God.
He noted that religious men have to remain neutral and embark on preaching the message of peace and reconciliation among all the people regardless of their political affiliations.
This came few days after the men of God’ under their umbrella of the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda-IRCU Called upon the government to withdraw the controversial age limit citing that its bound to cause chaos among the people of God.
This was accompanied by the decision of Inter-Religious Council of Uganda-IRCU turning down an invitation to the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of parliament. The team of the clergy was requested to share views on the proposed Magezi bill and seeks to offer Museveni a life presidency tenure.
However religious leaders left the nation in silence when they wrote to the committee advising that members make use of a press release issued on September 12, and a petition to the Speaker of Parliament dated September 18 to form an opinion on the proposed amendment.
The two documents were signed by seven religious leaders who include the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Stanley Ntagali, the Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the Archbishop of the Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga and the Archbishop of Kampala Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga.
They insisted that they cannot be part of the cue scrapping off article 102b since its the only way the Government can secure peaceful transition power. They added that they failed to secure the term limits removal because it was not given room for scrutiny thereby calling upon the ruling party to accord respect to the constitution and leave it intact.
