When prayer eclipsed the country’s politics

Ugandan politicians may be separated by their political views, however they were united in seeking divine intervention at the recent National Prayer Breakfast. The day’s motto was Ebenezer Uganda: Towards National Transformation. It was a day of dedicating the future of Uganda into the hands of God.

Indeed the world is changing and God is touching many souls. This is the summary observation of one event – the 14th National Prayer Breakfast – in the build-up to Independence Day celebrations. It is always prepared on the day our constitution was promulgated.

This event which brought together people from all faiths, politics, business and international community– to pray for the country after 50 years of self-rule, and was held at Hotel Africana in Kampala. It was attended by over 1,400 people. The director of ceremonies were Hon. Benson obua-Ogwal And Jovah Kamateka.

President Museveni, his wife Janet, the Speaker of Parliament, Cabinet Ministers, MPs, top army generals, business community, cultural leaders and a key number of international guests all gathered to give praise to God.

Seeking divine intervention
MPs like Dr Sam Lyomoki, Victoria Businge Rusoke, Connie Nakayenze Galiwango, Joshua Anywarach led prayers for governance and leadership, prayer for the world, prayer for repentance and prayer for the nation respectively. It was quite interesting to see a good number of MPs, in reflection mood, turning to God to change what they had failed to change using their powers at Parliament. God is indeed great. They prayed for an end to corruption, bad governance, homosexuality, national debts and good management of oil and smooth transformation.

Scripture readings had earlier been taken by Army MP Capt. Suzan Lakot, the Commander of Land Forces, Lt. Gen. Katumba Wamala, MP Naome Kabasharira and a reading from the holy Qur’an by MP Habbib katoto the deputy imam of parliament.

With religious music interludes by various artistes, speakers took to the podium. President Museveni had a clear message. He talked about the story of a Good Samaritan, challenging Ugandans to practice the same since most countrymen were God fearing people. “We need to look at the deeds and not the words,” the President said.

MP David Bahati, the chairman of Uganda National Parliamentary Fellowship, had this to say: “We have come here today to pray to God to continue blessing Uganda as we start on yet another journey of the next 50 years and beyond.”

“In the last 50 years, our country has gone through ups and downs. We have lived through some of the best of times and the worst of times. We have seen light but we have also been under some shadow of darkness.”

Bahati reminded the gathering of “the constant love of God for this country.”

God has been kind to us. He is central to our struggles, he added.

Together as one
The group prayed to God that “in the coming years, we will be more prudent in the use of our natural resources, that God will help us to search ourselves and purge the growing cancer of corruption.”

Amid all this, no other mood prevailed but that of prayer. Opposition came together with ruling government just as business competitors forgot about profits and bowed before the Almighty.

With the day’s motto being “Ebenezer Uganda: Towards National Transformation”, it was a day of dedicating the future of Uganda into the hands of God.

“For the Scripture teaches us that all wealth belongs to God; we are just managers; as managers Let us not be wasteful, let us plan better with our resources, and to be frugal with them. For how long shall we remain begging, after 50 years of Independence?” Bahati asked.

“Our duty is to the future and not to the past. Let us look to the past for guidance to the future.”

Then came the guest speaker, Dr Abu Bako, one of the internationally renowned motivational speakers.

His message was also very clear
“Seeking political office should be to have the kind of authority that enables you perform such functions to enhance the general welfare,” Dr Bako, from Ghana, said.

“Jesus, Moses, Joseph were all out to meet needs that were not necessarily theirs . . .they were driven by their desire to see others enjoying what they were already enjoying.”

And the politicians were given some food for thought. “Politics then has to do with, morality, ethics, preservation, safety, peace and prosperity. Is this what we are experiencing in our territories?” Dr Bako asked.

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga said: “Our Motto: “For God and my Country.” was a clever choice that clearly envisioned a nation in which the Will of God and the betterment of all mankind are at the front of all decisions we make.”

She called on members to heed to the duty and obligation to entrench values and Godliness “in our work and future generations but to ensure that everybody feels and sees a nation of people that truly honour God with their actions.”

As she signed out, Kadaga threw in a challenge to all the members. “Our challenge now as we move forward is to raise a generation of leaders with integrity to fight vices such as corruption that is slowing the pace of service delivery to our people,” she said.

But to go through such challenges, Ms Kadaga said: “Prayer and thanksgiving to God, therefore, remains the key pillar of faith amongst our members.”

The First Lady of Nigeria, through a prepared speech read for her by the wife of the president of Senate Helen Mark, called for political tolerance and reconciliation. While Senator Inhofe of the USA in his letter read to the participants, called leaders to take Jesus’s example of leadership.

As Ugandans celebrate a year of Golden Jubilee, the politicians seem to have opened a new chapter towards good leadership; through prayer.

jtugume@ug.nationmedia.com