Speed up reforms - Ntagali
The Executive Secretary of Uganda Joint Christian council, Rev Silvester Arinaitwe Rwomukubwe, (L) with as Archbishop Stanley Ntagali addressing journalists in Kampala yesterday. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA
What you need to know:
Give us time. Religious leaders have called for timely reforms which will allow Ugandans to scrutinise them.
KAMPALA. Christian believers yesterday asked government to speed up the process of amending electoral laws to provide adequate time for Ugandans to scrutinise the proposals.
Under their umbrella body, the Uganda Joint Christian Council, the believers demanded that the State should invest in strengthening of mediation in resolving conflicts in collaboration with religious leaders.
“One of the electoral activities envisaged under the Electoral Commission (EC) strategic plan is the enactment of enabling electoral laws and code of conduct for political parties and organisations. Although the government has stated that it would be initiating amendments to the Constitution and the electoral laws, Ugandans are still waiting,” said Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Stanley Ntagali yesterday.
“We call upon government to speed up the process of introducing bills on electoral reforms. Ugandans should be given adequate time to scrutinise the bills and give their views. The process of amending the laws should not be rushed or manipulated,” he said
While delivering Christmas message at Namirembe Hill, Archbishop Ntagali, also chairperson of UJCC, warned that lack of enabling laws has detrimental effect on the implementation of EC’s plan.
Archbishop Ntagali also lamented that the pain caused by corruption is evident in every sector.
“Educational institutions are characterised by poor infrastructure and scholastic materials. Teachers are demoralised due to poor salary, delayed payment and a sense of hopelessness. There is widespread shortage of drugs and lack of health personnel, health workers are poorly paid,” he said.
He called upon Christians to repent their sins in this season to allow reconciliation and live in harmony.
Rev Fr Dr Silvester Arinaitwe Rwomukubwe, the executive secretary of UJCC said there is still time to amend critical areas in the law to allow free and fair elections as long as there is a political will.
“I know there are reforms which have been done in two months. As we prepare for 2016, the level should be equal but the law seems to favour the incumbent. There is use of government property while campaigning. How about other political parties which are not in power? Fr Rwomukubwe wondered.
