Head of the Born Again Faith in Uganda, Presiding Apostle Dr. Joseph Serwadda has officially come out to addressed controversies surrounding the Religion and Faith-Based Organizations (RFBO) draft policy by government which, according to reports is still in its formative stages.
Dr Serwadda, who is also founding Pastor of Victory Christian Centre Church – Ndeeba says this policy has been misconstrued to “regulate”only one section of Uganda’s religious fraternity, but has been extended to include all faith and religious.
Through an article published by state aided newspaper, New Vision on June 19th, Dr Serwadda notes that the Directorate of Ethics and integrity has successfully conducted wide consultations and sought blessings from the Elders Forum, Judges, Parliament, media. Court of Judicature, Uganda Episcopal Congress, IRCU, Catholics, Anglicans, Orthodox, SDA, Born Again, Baptists, Bahati, Muslims, Alliance Fellowship, INFO Uganda and continues to avail itself for advice and proposals.
To imagine that there should not be legislation over religions entities in this modern world, especially Uganda, is to day-dream, Dr Serwadda says.
“Look around and if you are a leader worth any salt – are we free from religious threats of intolerance or terrorism? How do we expect the state to mitigate these spiritually charged eruptions without a properly constituted legal frame work? In fact, there has been a time when the Balokole Churches existed without legislation in the country! Isn’t the bible and other books of religion just set of rules and regulations?”
“To imagine a return of Born again Churches to the NGO Board is to churn the impossible! Who wants the eternal, holy church of God to be subjected to the decision of an LC 1 chief whether to be or not to be?”
“The state can and has the right to put in place guidelines for anything it considers useful to societal growth for common peaceful co-existence with others of like spirit, but the opposite is also true, as some religions are simply dangerous to society.” Dr Serwadda states.
He urges that only Churches/worship places/temples and mosques are covered by the proposed RFBO policy to cater for;
- The registration of religions/spiritual entities separate from charities.
- To guarantee for the perpetuity of churches and places of worship, vis-à-vis the NPO and NGOs that have life-time limits. A church, once established in writing and /or by a physical locality, should never be removed by state or any other agency. The NGO Act does not guarantee perpetuity of its entities!
- The equality of born again Churches to the traditional faiths in the face of the constitution of Uganda which clearly spelt that Uganda shall not adopt a state religion. In practice, this was abrogated as the Idd Amin spirit continued to haunt this nation’s religions terrain.
Dr Serwadda says many issues need to be addressed in the Balokole Fraternity, adding that religious groups; The Mormons (Churches of Jesus Christ of the latter Day Saints), Jehovah’s Witnesses, Branch Davidians, Kaswabuli, Children of God, Nabaasa, Universal Church, Sseulanda, Ow’Obushobozi, Jesus Only, Nuwa, Apostolic Church of the nations, Christian Science, Unification Church, Macher-Shalal-Hash-baz, and many more which are not part of the Balokole need to be clearly identified totally separate from the Born Agains.
“Then there are scores of self proclaimed and media-created pastors/”ministers” previously registered as NGOs which cannot point at a church they have established! These have turned into wolverine critics of Balokole Churches, but cannot point at a church they attend, let alone one they pastor!”
“Of recent, there are those who have ashamed Uganda in the outrageous incidents of infidelity, unchastity and theological error. Amazingly and so comforting, is the fact that these problems are not unique to Born again Churches, but spill over to other faiths as well. Only a formidable legal system can address these matters and cause order in Uganda’s religious chaos.”
“If the opponents of this arrangement succeed in convincing the government to drop the idea of a legislation for RFBOs, then so be it. The state is justified to put in place a legislation to allow those law abiding citizens to enjoy their religion freedom, to wade off decorators and plan well for the future generation.”
“This law may not have immediate benefits to those who care for only the now, but the future generation is secure and bright. And for that, they have my prayers and support.” Dr Serwadda says in conclusion.
male@ugchristiannews.com
