While presiding over a consultative meeting for the Development of a national policy on Faith Based Organizations, the ethics and integrity State Minister Fr Simon Lokodo expressed his disappointment towards church leaders who own media houses that broadcast contrary to what the faith is supposed to be following.
He attributed this increase in immorality to the lack of a national policy on Faith-Based Organizations.
According to the the October 2010 National NGO Policy, Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) engaged in NGO – type of activities (as defined herein), are required to comply with the provisions governing the activities of NGOs in Uganda.
They are expected to comply with the policy until government takes measures to provide an appropriate separate framework for promoting coordination of the spiritual activities.
He said: “I solemnly condemn that, but with this policy much as we have the ethics and integrity, we could as well terminate their operations because if they don’t follow the norms and professionalism of journalism then they should be deprived of the privilege of broadcasting, ”
Under the October 2010 National NGO Policy, the main aim is to create a framework that strengthens the relationship between the NGO sector and Government, and enhance capacities and effectiveness in the areas of service delivery, advocacy and empowerment.
Speaking to media reporters, the director of religious affairs in the Office of the President Rev Fr Aaron Mwesigye was quoted by the New Vision saying that the new policy will help in modeling some religious leaders who have been disrespecting government directives.
“It will help us to regulate ourselves so that we limit the cases of immorality among religious leaders who have started up a big number of churches,” he said.
cnakalungi@ugchristiannews.com
