Dear Honourable,
Suffice to note that I am not a spokesperson of any religious grouping but just a concerned, “practising Christian” who has increasingly been very sickened by the “ancient lie” peddled daily that religious leaders should not be involved in national issues (read “politics”) but to concentrate on wedding people, baptizing believers, preaching inside church pulpits, offering leadership over congregations and burying the dead.
While other people may have their opinion, allow me quickly share with you three issues that you need to urgently think about:
FIRST, I see this as a mark of intellectual dishonesty to always swear or take oath by raising the bible (or other religious books) in the air and then turn around to stop those who have both the mandate and the knowledge to interpret its contents from speaking out its guidance on issues you are involved in. Part of what it means to raise that bible is that you subscribe to its worldview and are bound by its tenets. It automatically means that whenever you violate its precepts, you should be brought to remembrance of your own symbolic deed… and I do suggest that no person can do this better than the religious leader. Intellectual dishonesty also comes in when you praise them for “speaking well” whenever they say anything that agrees with your agenda… (you even call upon others to think like those religious leaders)… but you then turn around to ostracize them when what they say is uncomfortable to you. Why should they be involved when they say what you like but you stop them when they highlight real issues you’re not comfortable with? Intellectual dishonesty, incarnate! Isn’t it, honourable?
SECONDLY, I see this as a hallmark of betrayal to the nation and a negative attitude that goes against leadership accountability. Come to think about it, why don’t you want to be reminded that, in the spirit of our national motto (“For God and my Country”), you’re betraying God and destroying your country when you neglect truths such as “Do not kill” (Exodus 20:13), “Do not bear false witness” (Exodus 20:16), or “As much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18)? Do you expect the traditional healers association to be the ones to remind you of this, honourable? Is it honourable enough to wave off one aspect of community accountability with one hand just because they have not said what your ears are itching to hear (2 Timothy 4:1-5)? Or are you actually saying that it is a waste of their time speaking to someone whose conscience has already been seared (Romans 1:18-32)? This is not only betrayal of your honourable country whose developmental foundation should be righteousness (Proverbs 14:34) and whose expectation is for you to be a “noble leader” (Ecclesiastes 10:17) but also your appointing authority (though the thinking is the same), and especially your Creator to whom you will soon give unfaked accountability to (Acts 17:30-31).
THIRDLY, the Constitution of our Republic mandates every citizen to be involved in developmental issues, to participate in matters of policy (including, but not limited to, through their parliamentary representatives), and to have their voice heard on all matters of national importance. It is a responsibility of everyone to be involved. What, then, remains to be answered is: “Are religious leaders citizens in this great nation?” If you say NO, then we will understand that all along you’ve been speaking from the perspective of disenfranchising a section of the population. But if you say YES, then you will need to be brought to book as to why you (and other similar-minded persons) find it not right for religious leaders to be involved in national issues. The issue we can have a roundtable about is NOT whether they should be involved or not. It is HOW they should be involved. And even in that kind of discussion, THEY should talk more as YOU listen more… and learn.
I hereby, therefore, kindly educate you that some of the issues being discussed are issues that squarely fall in their docket, in their religious and civic jurisdiction and their silence on such matters is an act of treason in the policy of the Kingdom they serve. The book you raised while swearing into office commands them to “fast” – just like you rightly advised them – but not as you narrowly thought. They are commanded to make their fasting in a different form: “free those who are wrongly imprisoned, lighten the burden of workers, let the oppressed go free, remove chains that bind the people, share food with the hungry, give shelter to the homeless, and clothe the naked (Isaiah 58:6-7). They are to care for those orphaned by senseless killings and visit those widowed by endless fights (James 1:27). It mandates them to follow in the footsteps of their Master: bring good news to the poor, comfort the brokenhearted, proclaim the release of captives, champion healing and freedom of the oppressed, participate in rebuilding what has been ruined, repair destroyed cities, speak against robbery and wrongdoing, and show justice to the nations (Isaiah 61:1-11 and Luke 4:18-19). That’s PURE RELIGION — something you speak against. Are you safe when you stand against what God stands for?
So, my sister, while this nation is always reminded to “leave issues of generals to the generals”, you may as well be reminded to “leave the job description of religious leaders to religious leaders”. Otherwise where were you when they were being commissioned — not fighting? Be encouraged to find more knowledge about their full mandate, not according to your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6) but according to the wisdom of your Creator (James 1:5).
Otherwise, thanks a lot for your good efforts in making your contribution to our country. Everyone should do that. Everyone should bring a brick to the site of national development. Everyone has a role to genuinely play in restoring our land to being “the Pearl of Africa” (Churchill, December 1908), to a point when all of us shall proudly join in the words of our national anthem, “Oh Uganda, the land of freedom; our love and labour, we give. And with neighbours, all at our country’s call, in peace and friendship we’ll live.”
Live. Love. Lead.
