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Response on the need to regulate Pentecostal churches

Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, Mariam Wangadya speaks during an interview with Monitor at her home in Kampala on September 3, 2024. PHOTO/ ISAAC KASAMANI

What you need to know:

  • Regulation is not about persecuting pentecostalism or any religion. It is about ensuring that religious institutions remain ethical, transparent, and accountable

In her article published in Daily Monitor on January 13, Ms Agnes Namaganda raised concerns that regulating Pentecostal churches could infringe on religious freedoms.

While I understand these concerns, they overlook the crucial role of regulation in ensuring public safety, preventing exploitation, and maintaining accountability. As the chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), I would like to clarify why regulation is necessary, not to undermine religious freedom but to protect individuals and preserve the integrity of religious institutions.

The UHRC recognises that religious freedom is a fundamental right under Uganda’s Constitution. Religious institutions play a key role in offering spiritual guidance, emotional support, and community. However, like all rights, religious freedom must be balanced with other rights, such as protection from harm and exploitation. Regulation is necessary to ensure that religious practices do not infringe on these rights or threaten public safety.

Uganda’s Pentecostal churches have seen rapid growth in recent years, but this growth has also brought troubling cases of financial exploitation, emotional manipulation, and physical and sexual abuse. Religious leaders hold significant influence over their followers, and in some cases, this influence has been misused.

Leaders have been known to coerce followers into extreme actions, such as abandoning education, refusing medical treatment, or severing family ties, all under the belief that these sacrifices will guarantee divine rewards.

This highlights the dangers of unregulated religious practices and demonstrates why oversight is necessary to ensure churches remain places of healing and support, not harm. There have also been reports of religious leaders running cult-like operations, using psychological manipulation to control followers.

These cases illustrate the need for regulation to prevent manipulation and abuse. Sexual abuse by some church leaders is another serious issue. Several pastors have been accused of exploiting followers sexually, including minors. Such abuse demonstrates the importance of regulation in protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation.

Fraudulent activities within some churches are also concerning. These schemes undermine public trust in religious organisations and highlight the need for financial transparency within churches. Opponents argue that regulation infringes on the autonomy of Pentecostal churches.

However, all institutions, religious or otherwise, must adhere to basic ethical and legal standards. Regulation doesn’t strip religious freedom but ensures that churches operate responsibly and protect their followers from exploitation and harm.

In addition to regulation, addressing harmful practices requires education, interfaith dialogue, and community engagement. Educating individuals about their rights reduces vulnerability to manipulation, while interfaith dialogue fosters understanding and tolerance.

These efforts help ensure that religious freedom is respected while protecting human rights. Regulation is not about persecuting pentecostalism or any religion. It is about ensuring that religious institutions remain ethical, transparent, and accountable. While some argue that existing laws are sufficient, many laws in Uganda remain vague and inadequate for modern challenges.

I encourage Ms Namaganda and others to review the UHRC’s 25th Annual Report on “Religious Freedoms in Uganda and the Human Rights Implications.” This report offers valuable insights into the need for regulation to protect both religious freedom and human rights. In conclusion, regulating pentecostal churches is not a threat to religious freedom but a necessary step to protect individuals from harm and exploitation.

By ensuring transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct, regulation can preserve the integrity of religious institutions and safeguard the wellbeing of their followers.

Ms Mariam Wangadya is the chairperson of the Uganda Human
Rights Commission.