The inter religious council of Uganda (IRCU), has set tomorrow Friday, Saturday and Sunday as days for national prayers in respective worship centers amidst ongoing violent activities occurring in the country especially to presidential candidates and their fans.
While speaking to media on Thursday at IRCU headquarters Mengo Kampala, Chairman of the council also Mufti of Uganda His Eminence Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje said that, as religious leaders are concerned of violent acts especially occurred on Wednesday in the country where the whole world witnessed brutal arrests of political candidates, Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Aka Bobi Wine, and Hon. Patrick Amuriat Oboi, both presidential candidates, the destruction of property due to riots and sadly the loss of lives of some innocent civilians.
Mubajje also appealed to Independent electoral commission and the various security organs to adhere to the human rights principals enshrined in the national objectives, and practices while being law abiding and following the national constitution as well as God’s word in the holy Quran and Bible.
“Fellow citizens, Uganda is our mother land and is a place where all must be safe and peaceful so as to thrive,” he said.
Arch Bishop of Kampala diocese His Grace Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga expressed dissatisfaction saying its only 9 days since the commencement of the national election campaigns, but the country has noted increasing cases of violence that threaten to undermining the integrity and fairness of elections.
” I asked for electoral commission to take action against these acts to ensure free and fair elections as its clearly stipulated in article 61 of the constitution,” he said.
The Arch Bishop of the church of Uganda His Grace Dr Samuel Stephen Kazimba Mugalu implore the immediate release of all people who were arrested on Wednesday that they committed crimes, they should be presented to the courts of law as the law stipulates.
” we call upon the leadership of government and the various security agencies to be open to continuous dialogue with the different political players as a means of solving conflict as we consider this as a cheaper and more humane and civilised way of resolving conflicts,” he said.
To the security agencies
The council also revealed that, while we imagine the dike ma faced by the security agencies, they called for actions that honor the rights and dignity of all Ugandans irrespective if their political affiliations. The army have breached Article 209 that states that the army will cooperate with civilian authority in emergency situations and in case of natural disaster like Covid-19.
The council also noted that, the police were in breach of the Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and article 211(3) that stipulates that the police force shall be nationalistic, patriotic, professional, disciplined, competent and productive; and its members shall be citizens of Uganda of good character.
Conclusively, the council also urged candidates who are vying for the various political offices to take personal responsibility to guide the population on their safety with relevant information so that they are able to make informed choices in a safe environment.
