Christmas Sermons, Clergy called for peaceful elections ahead of 2021

0
2499
Rubaga_Cathedral.FILE PHOTO

Followers of Jesus Christ around the world celebrated Christmas, in Uganda, religious leaders reflected on a turbulent year, called for security vigilance in the wake of rising crime wave, and spoke of the need for calm ahead of the 2021 General Election.

Kampala Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga led mass at Rubaga Cathedral, where he demanded for proper electoral reforms to ensure smooth elections come to February 2021.

Archbishop Lwanga told Christians that, as the political environment gets charged, government must ensure that all electoral reforms are made to dispel all the fears that the election will be characterized by violence.
“There is a lot of fear among people ahead of 2021 General Election, and as religious leaders, we call upon government for a peaceful election by making all the necessary electoral reforms,” Lwanga said.

Archbishop Lwanga also decried widespread corruption and land grabbing said its government’s role to prosecute the culprits, saying it was the only way they can be mitigated.

“The birth of Christ brought us peace hence we must use this as an opportunity to be peacemakers. In celebrating his birth, we need to renew our faith in him. It is, therefore, time for personal renewal,” Lwanga said.

While in the city center, Christ the King Church in Kampala, the parish priest, Msgr. Gerald Kalumba, asked Ugandans to desist from blaming the church for being silent on bad governance because it is them who vote for the leaders.
“Sometimes people come up and start blaming church leaders for being quiet. Are we the ones who vote those leaders into power? It should be you people to make noise if you are not satisfied and not the church leaders. You go and make noise if you want,” Msgr Kalumba said.

From the born-again community’s Victory Church, Ndeeba, the presiding Apostle, Pastor Joseph Sserwadda, asked political leaders to be tolerant as the country prepares for elections.

Pastor Sserwadda called for calm and asked politicians to ensure that they keep peace during campaigns and after elections.
“Let elections be a blessing and not a curse to our nation, bloodshed and fighting should not happen because of political issues; nobody should be harassed,’’ he said.

At St Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe, Bishop Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira castigated the rampant murders, theft of public funds, impunity and environment destruction that has led to disasters in the country.
“In some areas, people are killed and the motive is not known, and this is threatening and troubling us. Domestic violence is on the increase resulting from poverty, lack of respect, dishonesty and diseases,” Bishop Luwalira said as he appealed to Ugandans to emulate Jesus on forgiveness, reconciliation and peaceful co-existance.

“Can we be happy if part of the money collected in church today was stolen? Were the houses we are staying in constructed from stolen money, or grabbed land? All these have caused suffering in our country,” he added.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here