Catholic Bishops: Be each other’s neighbour during this Christmas period to overcome numerous challenges
Ugandans have been asked to work together, embrace each other with love during this year’s festive season to outcompete various challenges bothering the country today.
“We know and believe the Child Jesus was born to bring peace to the world. If we all work together with one mind and spirit and embrace each other as neighbours, we can overcome all the challenges bedevilling our country today,” Catholics Bishops Christmas message stated.
Tweet
Bishop Joseph Antony Zziwa, the chairperson of Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) also the Mityana Diocese Bishop in his Christmas message identified issues that have hindered rule of love in Uganda that includes; the coming general elections, environment, discrimination, land conflicts, moral decay, instability of the family institution, poverty and freedom of assembly.
“There is anxiety hovering over the 2021 general elections. As we enter the electioneering period (2020-2021), many Ugandans are afraid that there will be more violence and suppression of dissenting views, thus ruining prospects and hopes for peaceful, free and fair elections,” Bishop Zziwa said.
Tweet
Bishop Zziwa in his further remarks expressed concern on the slow movement of electoral reforms which has caused despondency, restlessness among electorates.
He, however, asked the government to pay attention to the call for reforms from the public, if the country is to have free and fair elections.
Bishop Zziwa as well asked the government to revise the laws regulating public assemblies to save Ugandans lives and properties.
According to Zziwa, innocent have lost lives and other properties due to increased violation of freedom of Assemblies by security agencies, yet Uganda is a multiparty country.
“There is increasing constraints on freedom of assembly through the use of excessive force by security agencies targeted at unarmed civilians. On some occasions this has led to the loss of life and property,” Zziwa said.
Tweet
“We are puzzled by the fact that all this is happening while our national Constitution guarantees freedom of assembly and multiparty dispensation. We urge the government to review the law regulating public assemblies,” Zziwa added.
Tweet
Further, Bishop Zziwa said that the Catholic Church chose to celebrate Christmas under the theme: “Be each other’s neighbour” as a reflection of the political, social, and economic issues prevailing in Uganda.
“The scriptures exhort you to love your neighbour as you love yourself and this call is addressed to all irrespective of our political, social and economic beliefs,” Zziwa said. “Who then is my neighbour? Any human being because he or she is created by God in his image.”
Tweet
Additionally, Zziwa says environmental degradation in the country signifies an abandoned mandate given by God to till and care for nature.
Relatedly, Zziwa noted that some individuals have turned to be corrupt and practice criminal and evil activities such as; human sacrifice, drug dealing, cheating, and money laundering which he says should end.
Zziwa then invited every Ugandan to join the church in witnessing the love of God revealed to us in the mystery of the birth of Jesus.
