Dr. Paddy Musana, the head of Department of Religion and Peace Studies at Makerere University has said that the prevailing economic times in Uganda are forcing people to flock Churches.
Musana adds that considering the new revelation on healing in the bible, many are running to Churches so as to find solutions to what might cost them more if they go to hospital.
“People are sick yet the medical care is very expensive. And here it is that you are called upon to just have faith. If it is talking about challenges, it is Women we talk about more so. And they need help.”
The lecturer was speaking to press on Sunday, in a report that sought to answer what could be the appeal of mushrooming Pentecostal churches.
According to recent reports, the Ugandan economy suffered in 2016 and is expected to have underperformed 2015’s growth result.
The difficulties became starkly apparent when the Central Bank was forced to take over the country’s third largest bank in October.
A 50kg bag of sugar, which was selling between Ush150,000 ($43) and Ush169,000 ($49) now sells between Ush173,000 ($50) and Ush172,000 ($49).
Famous for his recent research at Cambridge that examined women and Pentecostalism in Rwanda and Uganda, Musana says that as people turn their eyes to churches, these institutions need to be checked so as to avoid cases of religious extremism, as it was with the Kibwetere Kanungu Massacre in 2000.
“It will re-occur if the emergency of churches is not well regulated. Today we hear of the men of God, and whatever they say is final. That need to be checked. ” He adds.
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