Clerics to create new political roles for ‘ideal’ UgandaBy SARAH TUMWEBAZE | Wednesday, May 16  2012 at  10:42

Religious leaders will introduce new political roles to create a different Uganda in the next 50 years, the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa (Capa) has said.

Rev. Grace Kaiso, the general secretary of Capa, said they have been following laws laid down by political leaders.
“As we reflect on the past 50 years, we think it is time that we define our own roles and how we can put them to use to come up with a Uganda that we want,” Rev. Kaiso said.

He was speaking at the launch of an initiative by the Inter Religious Council of Uganda under the theme, “Crossing the bridge: Uganda after 50 years.”
The roles will be announced in September during a national conference for senior religious leaders.

Rev. Kaiso said: “We are looking at a Uganda with national cohesion, a morally upright society, one that cares and a corrupt-free country.”

Anarchy

He added: “People need both spiritual and physical nourishment. We cannot keep quiet if they are only getting one of these. Issues like education, security and health impact on the wellbeing of the people we lead.” President Museveni and other political leaders have consistently told clerics to desist from commenting on political issues but concentrate on only religious matters.

Prof. Badru Katerega, a lecturer at Makerere University and a member of the Peace, Justice Governance Committee, said it was hard for clerics to shun politics because they are interested in the way their people are governed.

However, the President’s Press Secretary, Mr Tamale Mirundi, said the only role religious leaders can play is to lead people in faith.

“All they have to do is adhere to the Constitution. If they create other roles, they are promoting anarchy,” Mr Mirundi said.